Michael Tucker (baseball): Difference between revisions

Michael Tucker
Michael Tucker
	Outfielder
	Born: June 25, 1971 (age 53); South Boston, Virginia
	Batted: Left Threw: Right
debut
	April 26, 1995, for the Kansas City Royals
Last appearance
	October 1, 2006, for the New York Mets
Career statistics
Batting average	.256
Home runs	125
Runs batted in	528
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	Kansas City Royals (1995–1996); Atlanta Braves (1997–1998); Cincinnati Reds (1999–2001); Chicago Cubs (2001); Kansas City Royals (2002–2003); San Francisco Giants (2004–2005); Philadelphia Phillies (2005); New York Mets (2006);

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Revision as of 15:00, 20 August 2013

Michael Anthony Tucker (born June 25, 1971) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. Tucker played with the Kansas City Royals (1995-1996, 2002-2003), Atlanta Braves (1997-1998), Cincinnati Reds (1999-2001), Chicago Cubs (2001), San Francisco Giants (2004-2005), Philadelphia Phillies (2005) and New York Mets (2006). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.^[1]^[2]

Early career

He attended the then Longwood College (at the time a NCAA Division II school) from 1989 through 1992. In November 2005, Tucker was among the selection of Longwood's first Hall of Fame class, including basketball player Jerome Kersey and LPGA golfer Tina Barrett.

After college, Tucker begin his pro baseball career in the minors in 1993. Tucker spent most of the 1993 season with the Single-A Carolina League Wilmington Blue Rocks. Before making the move up to Double-A and spending time with the Memphis Chicks (now West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx) of the Southern League. In 1994, Tucker played in Triple-A with the Omaha Royals of the American Association before joining Major League Baseball and the Kansas City Royals.

Major League career

Tucker made his Major League debut for the Royals at age 23 on April 26, 1995. Starting in leftfield and batting leadoff, Tucker singled in his first big-league at-bat against pitcher Mike Mussina in a 5-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles.^[3]

Tucker enjoyed his most productive season in 1997 with the Braves, when he posted career highs in batting average (.283), runs (80) and hits (141) in 138 games. In 2004, for the Giants, he played 106 games in right field and 25 in center. He ended the year with a .256 average, 13 home runs, 62 RBI, 77 runs, and a .340 on base percentage. In nine of his 10 seasons, he collected 11 or more home runs, with a career-high 15 in 2000. Tucker hit the first-ever home run in a regular season game at Turner Field. His shot came off Kevin Foster in the third inning of the Braves' 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on April 4, 1997.^[4]

In August 2005, San Francisco traded Tucker to the Philadelphia Phillies for minor leaguer Kelvin Pichardo. Tucker, whose playing time has been limited that season after starting for most of 2004, joined a Phillies team in the heart of the playoff chase.

On January 9, 2006, Tucker agreed to a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals. On August 9, Tucker's contract was purchased by the New York Mets from the Triple-A Norfolk Tides after Cliff Floyd was placed on the 15-Day DL. On May 17, 2007, Tucker signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox, but was released on July 7 of the same year.^[5]

Tucker was basically a streaky line drive hitter with gap power whose struggles against left-handed pitching made him a platoon player throughout his career. Although his 108 stolen bases career total doesn't show it, he was an aggressive and smart base runner. In the field, Tucker had the ability to play all outfield positions well, particularly in right field. He had good range and a strong and accurate arm.

Return to pro baseball

In 2009, Tucker came back to baseball by signing with the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League. He was inactivate, after playing just 12 games hitting .231 and considered retirement in May 2009. But Tucker signed with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on July 15, 2009 and rediscovered his swing. In 57 games, he hit .332.

References

External links

Career statistics from Baseball Reference
ESPN - profile and daily updates

Template:Persondata

[1] ttp://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tuckemi01.shtml

[2] ttp://www.somdbluecrabs.com/roster.cfm

[3] ttp://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA199504260.shtml

[4] ttp://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1997/B04040ATL1997.htm

[5] PawSox.com - Player Moves

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 ==Major League career==
+Tucker made his Major League debut for the Royals at age 23 on April 26, 1995. Starting in leftfield and batting leadoff, Tucker singled in his first big-league at-bat against pitcher [[Mike Mussina]] in a 5-1 win over the [[Baltimore Orioles]].<ref>http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA199504260.shtml</ref>
 Tucker enjoyed his most productive season in 1997 with the Braves, when he posted career highs in [[batting average]] (.283), [[Run (baseball)|runs]] (80) and [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] (141) in 138 games. In 2004, for the Giants, he played 106 games in right field and 25 in [[center field|center]]. He ended the year with a .256 average, 13 [[home run]]s, 62 [[Run batted in|RBI]], 77 runs, and a .340 [[on base percentage]]. In nine of his 10 seasons, he collected 11 or more home runs, with a career-high 15 in {{By|2000}}.
 Tucker hit the first-ever home run in a regular season game at [[Turner Field]]. His shot came off [[Kevin Foster (baseball)|Kevin Foster]] in the third inning of the Braves' 5-4 victory over the [[Chicago Cubs]] on April 4, 1997.<ref>http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1997/B04040ATL1997.htm</ref>