HOUSTON — Astros scouting director Mike Elias made clear to all that the club had its sights set on drafting Florida prep outfielder Kyle Tucker due to his prodigious talent and not necessarily because of his familial relationship with Houston outfielder Preston Tucker, his sibling.
That fact didn’t prevent both the club and the Tuckers from celebrating the union Monday, when Kyle Tucker received a reported $4 million signing bonus to join the franchise. Tucker, the fifth overall selection in the draft last week, will report to the rookie-level Gulf Coast League to begin his professional career.
“It was awesome,” Kyle Tucker said of spending time with Preston. “I got to hit with him a little bit and talk with some of the guys, get a little bit of a relationship with them. It was fun.
“Putting on a big league uniform is always something special. Hopefully in a few years I’ll have the opportunity (to play with his brother).”
The extended Tucker family was in tow Monday as the younger Tucker took batting practice with the Astros. Tucker was widely regarded as one of the top outfield prospects available, so his talent carried the day regarding the Astros’ decision to scout and draft him. However, the Astros often discuss makeup when evaluating prospects, and having a book on the elder Tucker aided the process here.
“Certainly our experience drafting his brother (in the seventh round in 2012), having him in the organization, knowing what kind of person he is, knowing the family that he comes from and having the same contacts at his high school program and the various summer programs … that all helped,” Elias said. “But in terms of him just as a talent, if his last name was Smith or Johnson, we still would have taken him fifth in the country.
“It’s just icing on the cake that we have this connection and the comfort with his brother and his family.”