Report: The Diamondbacks Claim Cole Tucker Off Waiver from Pirates

Per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the Arizona Diamondbacks have claimed Cole Tucker. The Pittsburgh Pirates DFAd Tucker May 30th to make room for recently acquired Yu Chang. Tucker, who had never stuck in a Pirates’ uniform, gets a second chance in his home state of Arizona.

Tucker was originally a first-round draft pick by the Pirates in the 2014 draft out of Mountain Pointe high school. Tucker coming through the Pirates’ system, was highly regarded as a solid defender with the ability to develop the bat at some point.

During his Minor League career, Tucker had a .260 average with an OPS of .709 in 2,338 at-bats. Tucker made his Major League debut on April 20th, 2019, and even hit a home run in his debut. Since his debut in 2019, Tucker amassed a .211 batting average with an OPS of just .573 in 436 at-bats.

A homecoming for Tucker may just be what the doctor ordered for the former first-round pick. Much like Polanco in ’21, Tucker was a good guy in the locker room; he was just never able to put it all together. Good luck, Mr. Tucker.