With the fifth overall pick in the draft, the Astros has selected outfielder Kyle Tucker out of Plant High School in Tampa, Florida. Tucker was widely projected to be one of the top-five picks in the draft, with the Astros being consistently linked to him in mock drafts. Tucker is the brother of Astros' slugger Preston Tucker.
Tucker was a four-year varsity starter for Plant, a school that has produced seven major-leaguers, including Hall of Famer Wade Boggs and former All-Star John Hudek. He hit .435 with 28 homers in 95 games over four seasons, led by a sophomore campaign in which he hit .556 with nine dingers in 23 games. Tucker is committed to the University of Florida, but will likely forgo his college eligibility to jump into the pros with the Astros.
According to his scouting report on MLB.com, the 18-year old Tucker is a better prospect than his brother Preston, who has hit .292 with two home runs in 23 games with Houston so far this season. Kyle Tucker projects as an above-average hitter in terms of both contact and power, and is expected to be a solid corner outfielder in the pros with the ability to become a five-tool player.
Tucker is the second pick for the Astros in this draft, joining shortstop Alex Bregman from LSU. Houston has one of the best farm systems in baseball with a few outfielders in the mix, including both Tuckers, Domingo Santana, Brett Phillips and Teoscar Hernandez as well as major-leaguers George Springer and Jake Marisnick.