Astros prospect voted starting outfielder in Mid-Season Classic
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – River Bandits outfielder Kyle Tucker has been voted a starting outfielder in the 2016 Midwest League All-Star Game, the league announced Tuesday. Tucker is the only River Bandit named to the Midwest League Mid-Season Classic, which will take place on Tuesday, June 21, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the time of the announcement, Tucker was hitting .306 with 31 RBI, one home run and a league-leading 23 stolen bases in 53 games. Earlier Tuesday he was named the Astros’ May Player of the Month for the Quad Cities affiliate.
The fifth overall pick in the 2015 Draft, Tucker has collected 11 doubles and four triples while seeing playing time in every outfield spot throughout the year. He’s had three separate hitting streaks surpass five games this season and collected 19 multi-hit games on the year, helping him to a hit total of 60 on the year. He has more multi-hit games than he does hitless games for the season (16). He’s also scored 23 runs this season and been intentionally walked three times.
Tucker was drafted out of Plant High School in Tampa, Florida last June, helping the rookie-level Greeneville Astros to an Appalachian League title in his first professional season in 2015. Baseball America ranks him as the fourth-best prospect in the Houston Astros organization and the No. 63 overall prospect in Minor League Baseball. MLB Pipeline also ranks him fourth in the Houston organization and has him as the No. 74 prospect in the minors.
The Western Division team will be led by the Cedar Rapids Kernels coaching staff and manager Jake Mauer, who earned the honor by finishing as league runners up in 2015. The 52nd Annual Midwest League All-Star Game will be played at Perfect Game Field in Veterans Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, June 21, at 7:05 p.m. CDT.
