Kyle Tucker: Prospect Profile for Houston Astros' 1st-Round Pick

Player: Kyle Tucker

Position: OF

DOB: 1/17/1997 (Age: 18)

Height/Weight: 6'4", 175 lbs

Bats/Throws: L/R

School: Plant High School (Fla.)

Previously Drafted: N/A

Background

There's nothing wrong with a little sibling rivalry.

After his standout career at the University of Florida, the Houston Astros selected first baseman/outfielder Preston Tucker in the seventh round of the 2012 draft. The 24-year-old made his major league debut on May 7, and he has quickly emerged as a key contributor for the upstart Astros.

All of that said, there is little question his younger brother Kyle is a more highly regarded prospect heading into the draft, and chances are he won't be going the college route.

With a lanky frame, a smooth left-handed swing and a good mix of contact and power, the 18-year-old has enjoyed a terrific career at H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, Florida.

A four-year varsity performer, Tucker put himself on the prospect map when he hit .556 with nine home runs and 26 RBI as a sophomore.

"When he was a sophomore, they called him Ted Williams," Plant coach Dennis Braun told Jim Halley of USA Today. "Boy, there’s nowhere to go but down from that. They throw out so many names of I can’t keep track of them. All I know is Kyle, like his brother, can hit. You can’t teach putting the barrel on the ball and that’s the quality everybody is looking for."

He followed up his impressive sophomore campaign with another strong season as a junior, hitting .415/.536/.902 with seven doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 35 RBI.

That earned him a spot in the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field in August, where he batted second for the American Team and went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored.

He wrapped up his impressive prep career by hitting .484/.581/.962 with seven doubles, 10 home runs, 27 RBI and 29 runs scored in 64 at-bats as a senior to beat out Lake Mary High School shortstop Brendan Rogers for Florida Gatorade Player of the Year honors.

It could take him some time to develop as his lanky 6'4" frame fills out, but Tucker has the tools to be an impact middle-of-the-order bat and an everyday right fielder down the road.

Pick Analysis

An impressive spring was enough to solidify Tucker's place among the top prep bats in the class, but just what kind of player can we expect him to be at the pro level?

Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com's Prospect Watch provided the following scouting report:

"

Tucker has one of the purest swings and best bats in the 2015 high school crop. He makes consistent hard contact and, once he fills out his lanky frame, he could be a plus hitter in both average and power.

He's a more well-rounded player than his older brother and should have average-or-better tools across the board. He'll likely move from center field to a corner spot in pro ball and has the arm strength needed to play right.

"

It's hard not to like the long-term outlook of a tall, sweet-swinging lefty who profiles to hit for average and power, but patience will be important when it comes to Tucker.

High school bats take time to develop, but he has the pedigree and the tools, so it should prove to be worth the wait once he finally arrives.

MLB Player Comparison: Paul O'Neill

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

At least from a mechanics standpoint, Tucker has seen his swing compared to the likes of Ted Williams, Ken Griffey Jr. and Darryl Strawberry, according to Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs. While the swings may look similar, Tucker does not quite have that sort of upside from a power standpoint, so a better comparison may be Paul O'Neill.

O'Neill used a smooth left-handed swing to carve out a terrific 17-year career, as he hit .288/.363/.470 and averaged 22 home runs and 100 RBI per 162 games.

Both players stand 6'4" and have lean frames, both have strong arms from a corner outfield spot and both grade out above average in all five tools despite not having one that is truly elite.

O'Neill at his best could be a reasonable expectation for Tucker in his prime.

Projection: Middle-of-the-order run producer, potential All-Star

Major League ETA: 2019

Chances of Signing: 95 percent

Tucker is committed to attend the University of Florida, but all signs point to him cashing in with a big signing bonus and beginning his pro career.

All statistics and background information on Tucker come courtesy of Gatorade.com and MaxPreps.