Tag: texas a&m

Red Sox select Texas A&M outfielder Stanley Tucker with 19th-round pick in 2023 MLB Draft

The Red Sox have selected Texas A&M outfielder Stanley Tucker with their 19th-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft at No. 568 overall.

Tucker, 21, appeared in just 20 games and made three starts for the Aggies this past season, going 6-for-22 (.273) at the plate with two doubles, two RBIs, eight runs scored, four stolen bases, five walks, and six strikeouts. The right-handed hitter also played for the Williamsport Crosscutters of the MLB Draft League earlier this summer, slashing .211/.357/.333 with one home run and seven RBIs in 18 games.

A Texas native himself, Tucker originally begin his collegiate career at Wharton County Junior College in 2021 and then transferred to New Mexico Junior College, where he hit .407/.487/.785 with 20 doubles, five triples, 17 home runs, 90 RBIs, 82 runs scored, 37 stolen bases, 34 walks, and 36 strikeouts over 58 games (262 plate appearances)Β en route to being named a 2022 NJCAA First Team All-American.

On the heels of that productive sophomore campaign, Tucker took part in a pre-draft workout that was hosted by the Red Sox in San Diego last June, so there should already be some familiarity between the two sides.

Though he is listed as an outfielder, Tucker does have experience at shortstop as well. With Williamsport, for instance, the 5-foot-9, 165-pounder logged 94 2/3 innings at short while making three starts in center field. He also possesses plus speed and is well-regarded for his athleticism.

Tucker had entered the transfer portal at the end of the 2023 college baseball season. As such, he has another year of eligibility remaining and is therefore not a sure bet to go pro by signing with Boston. The Red Sox can offer Tucker up to $150,000 without it counting toward their bonus pool.

(Picture of Stanley Tucker: Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Red Sox host Texas A&M commit Stanley Tucker for pre-draft workout in San Diego

The Red Sox held a pre-draft workout at the University of San Diego’s Fowler Park over the weekend and junior college prospect Stanley Tucker was among those in attendance, per his Twitter account.

Tucker, 20, is currently committed to transfer and play Division I college baseball at Texas A&M University. This past season with New Mexico Junior College, the right-handed hitting infielder batted .407/.487/.785 with 20 doubles, five triples, 17 home runs, 90 RBIs, 82 runs scored, 37 stolen bases, 34 walks, and 36 strikeouts over 58 games (262 plate appearances) en route to being named a 2022 NJCAA First Team All-American.

A native of Richmond, Texas, Tucker is not regarded by industry publications such as Baseball America or MLB Pipeline as one of the top prospects in this year’s draft class. That being said, Baseball America noted back in December that at 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds, Tucker “is a little undersized but has plus speed and makes consistent hard contact.”

Defensively, Tucker is listed an an infielder who has plenty of experience up the middle, but he played some center field this year as well. He also pitched in high school, so his arm strength could be considered a plus tool depending on what evaluators have seen.

In last year’s 20-round amateur draft, the Red Sox selected two junior college products in Reedley College infielder B.J. Vela and Chipola College right-hander Luis Guerrero, who were taken in the the 16th and 17th round, respectively. Boston also signed Western Oklahoma State College righty Jhonny Felix as an undrafted free agent.

The Red Sox do have a connection to Stanley’s alma mater in Nick Pivetta, who is currently the only active major-leaguer who played for the Thunderbirds. The 29-year-old hurler was originally selected by the Nationals in the fourth round of the 2013 draft out of New Mexico Junior College.

(Picture of Stanley Tucker via his Instagram)