The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced they have signed shortstop Cole Tucker, who was the 24th overall selection in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. The announcement was made by Senior Vice President and General Manager Neal Huntington and Pirates Director of Scouting Joe DelliCarri.
“Today is another great day in the process of procuring talent for the Pirates organization,” said DelliCarri. “We are excited to be able to have the opportunity to grow and develop the skillsets Cole Tucker brings to the game of baseball on and off the field. He is a very passionate and talented young man that we believe will flourish in our system.”
The switch-hitting Tucker hit .404 (34-for-84) with eight doubles, four triples, five home runs, 30 RBI and 13 stolen bases for Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, AZ, this past season.
“I feel like if I want to be a Major Leaguer, I have to improve in every aspect of my game,” Tucker said. “There’s nothing I do right now that’s good enough to be out there on that field right now. I need to improve as a hitter, as a student of the game, as a person, as a fielder, as a runner. I need to get stronger. I need to do a lot of things so I can put on this uniform everyday and play in the big leagues, so I’m really looking forward to just taking it all in and being a sponge and trying to improve every aspect of my game.”
Tucker, who was recently rated as the second-best High School player in the state of Arizona, was also a member of the 2013 USA Baseball 18U National Team that beat Japan, 3-2 to win the 2013 World Cup in Taiwan last September.
“I got used to living in a hotel,” said Tucker. “Playing everyday, which is something that’s very important at the next level. I got used to that. It’s just hotel life, baseball life in and out, that’s about all that you got but, playing against that competition, playing against the best Cubans in the world, the best Venezuelans, the best Japanese players in the world. It really prepared me for what I think I’m going to see at the next level, so I’m excited for that.”
Tucker will begin his professional career with the Gulf Coast League Pirates.
The Pirates have now signed 13 players from the 2014 First-Year Player Draft.
