Astros send Kyle Tucker to minor league camp to work on ‘subtleties’

By Chandler Rome, Houston Chronicle

Published

4:11 pm CDT, Tuesday, March 12, 2019

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Kyle Tucker’s inconsistent presence in major league spring training ended quietly Tuesday, when the Astros optioned their No. 2 overall prospect to minor league camp.

In 28 Grapefruit League plate appearances, Tucker struck out eight times and struck just seven hits. Two of Tucker’s three extra-base hits arrived this week, when a swing he acknowledged was “lost” at the beginning of camp began to return.

“He has to keep working on some subtleties to take the next step,” said manager A.J. Hinch, who met individually with all seven players who were shipped out of major league camp throughout Tuesday morning.

“His swing improved over the last week, but he did struggle a little bit at times during this camp. His attention to detail on defense improved and we did bring some things to his attention. I told him he’s just got to keep working toward making himself a better player so that when he gets the next opportunity, he’s ready to perform here.”

Outfielder Yordan Alvarez, considered the organization’s third-best prospect, remained in major league camp over Tucker. Baseball America ranked Tucker the franchise’s best position player prospect. Alvarez is on his first non-roster invitation to spring training. Tucker garnered one last season and authored a meteoric rise up the organizational hierarchy.

After demolishing Class AAA pitching throughout the first half of last season, Tucker endured a dismal major league debut. In three separate stints at the big leagues, Tucker finished 9-for-64 with three extra-base hits.

Tucker was unavailable for comment Tuesday. On Monday afternoon, Tucker spoke of how much his swing was returning to form and the adjustments he was making to combat inside pitching.

“If you just keep playing your game you can kind of force your way into a lineup,” Tucker said. “That’s where you can kind of control that part. You go out, do well, practice and then really get your work in to come out and show that you belong.”

A day later, Tucker was gone.

“He took it well,” Hinch said Tuesday. “He’s got a calm demeanor which, at times, I think can be misread as a lack of intensity, and that’s not the case. He’s trying, he does work hard and he’s had a lot of success. This next step for him is going to be important for him to be ready for the next opportunity.”