Cole Tucker Hopes The Switch Is A Hit | MLBbro Optioned To Minors, Will Simplify Things

Cole Tucker Hopes The Switch Is A Hit | MLBbro Optioned To Minors, Will Simplify Things

by | May 13, 2022 | THE THREE SPOT

MLBbro Cole Tucker is on his way back to the minor leagues. According to reports, on Thursday, infielder Rodolfo Castro was recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis, and the Pittsburgh Pirates utility player was optioned to Indianapolis.

Tucker was very optimistic entering the season but got off to a rough start offensively. He’s struggled to find a rhythm at the plate and that can be frustrating for any hitter. In 18 games between shortstop, second base and right field, Tucker slashed just .175/.175/.222 with no homers or walks, just two RBIs and a 39.7% strikeout rate

MLB Clock Was Ticking: Forget Switch-Hitting

Tucker could hear the minor league grim reaper getting closer and knew something needed to change at the plate for him to have success, so he abandoned switch-hitting in hopes of regaining a steady, productive stroke from one side of the plate

 

 

 

For his career, Tucker’s hitting .192 from the right side, so one can imagine why he wants to swing from the left side of the plate.

“I’m tired of getting the bat shoved up my butt right-handed, bluntly,” Tucker said in an article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I just want to give myself the best chance I can to succeed, and right now I think that’s left-handed.”

Since he made his debut with the Pirates in 2019, Tucker has struggled to have success consistently in the big leagues. But despite his demotion, the Pirates are still high on Tucker. There have been spurts throughout his career where he’s shown signs of promise. The Pirates aren’t giving up on him just yet.

 

 

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said he sent Tucker down to get consistent at-bats and work on his lefty swing more consistently.

“In fairness to him, we need to give him an opportunity to work on it probably in an environment that’s a little bit different than here,” Shelton said.

This move that Tucker is making at the plate could be what he just needs. 

The Pirates aren’t in a position to give up on young talent, so Tucker will be back. For now, he can spend more time practicing his new approach, without the pressures of producing on a major league level for a team that despite its record is only 6.5 games out of first.

“You’ve just got to go into it with that attitude and that mindset of confidence and coming at it from a place of power,” Tucker said. “It got to the point where I was feeling like, man, I kind of feel like I would feel better hitting left-handed against this guy than right-handed. That’s kind of how we got here.”

The Show is no rodeo for MLBbros. Wishing Tucker the best of luck and a quick return to the big club. By the way, having actress Vanessa Hudgens as a girlfriend is not a bad consolation prize.

I’m just saying…