With the Fifth Pick, the Astros Select Kyle Tucker

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The Astros have made their second selection of the 2015 MLB Draft. After weeks of speculation, the draft is under way. Depending on who you read to get you ready for the draft, the Astros were expected to take Kyle Tucker, Daz Cameron, or Andrew Benintendi. The Astros had to choose between two high school players and the college prospect in Benintendi.

The Texas Rangers just took Dillon Tate. So who did the Astros take?

With the Fifth Pick, the Astros Select Kyle Tucker

The following info is from my earlier article here.

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Tucker is currently ranked by

Baseball America

as the second-best high school hitting prospect for the 2015 draft, behind Brendan Rodgers. Tucker is a better-ranked prospect than his brother was when he was drafted and has one of the purest swings in this year’s draft class. Preston was not drafted out of high school and told me in an

interview

that he wasn’t ready out of high school. The experts don’t think the same thing about Kyle because he is a more all-around player than his older brother when he was drafted.

Kyle Tucker has a tall and thin frame right now, but the experts believe he can fill out a little with more muscle. When he adds some muscle to him, he should be able to hit a for above-average batting average and gap power. The Astros will probably be choosing between Tucker and Daz Cameron with this pick, but most likely will go with Tucker because of his upside in the power department. I have meant to write about Cameron, just haven’t had a chance yet. (Picture Tucker as a Richie Sexton)

Let’s look at MLB Pipeline’s Scouting Grades on Kyle Tucker, he is ranked as the eighth overall prospect.

“Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55.”

These grades show him as an above average player, whose best skill is his hitting tool.

Why is this a good pick for the Astros

More from Astros Draft

While the Astros are stockpiled with outfield prospects, it never hurts to have a bat like Kyle Tucker. Some scouts have said that he is better than current Astros star player Preston Tucker, who is his older brother. This could also open some of the Astros prospects to become available to upgrade the starting rotation.

Here is what we said about in CTH’s Draft Week

There are rumors that Daz Cameron could fall to the Astros with the 37th pick.

Next: CTH on Kyle Tucker

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