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After adding LSU shortstop Alex Bregman with the second-overall pick, the Houston Astros made Kyle Tucker their second pick - and the fifth pick overall - of the draft.
Tucker, a high school outfielder out of H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, Florida, is the younger brother of current Houston Astro outfielder Preston Tucker, whom the Astros drafted in the seventh round of the 2012 draft.
Considered one of the purest hitters in the 2015 prep class, the younger Tucker was a four-year starter at Plant - a school that has produced seven major leaguers, including Hall of Famer Wade Boggs. A left-handed hitter, his swing has drawn comparisons to Ken Griffey, Jr., and Daryl Strawberry. As he begins to fill in his lanky 6'4" frame, many scouts and draft experts expect him to add power to his toolset.
He joins a deep pool of Astros outfield prospects, which includes last year's first-round pick Derek Fisher, as well as notable standouts like Brett Phillips, Teoscar Hernandez, and Jason Martin - and he immediately moves to the top of that group.
Per our very own pre-draft profile on him:
Tucker is a rare talent who has cemented himself as a high first-round talent. He oozes offensive potential, and bats like his are only available in very small numbers each year. He may not provide the defensive value of a player like Brendan Rodgers, but his middle of the order potential as a hitter might be unmatched by any player in this class.