Cole Tucker hits the ball during the spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Peoria Sports Complex on March 10, 2024, in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
According to the team’s transaction page, the Los Angeles Angels signed utility player Cole Tucker to a minor league contract on April 10; Tucker was assigned to the Arizona Complex League.
Tucker, 27, was born in Phoenix, Ariz., and has played five seasons in Major League Baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2019-22 and the Colorado Rockies in 2023.
He was the 24th overall pick in the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix. He signed for $1.8 million on June 12, 2014, after forgoing his commitment to the University of Arizona.
Tucker signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners on February 6 and was invited to big league camp on the same day. Tucker was assigned to Triple-A Tacoma on February 7.
The switch-hitter elected free agency on October 3, 2023, before signing with Seattle.
Tucker played in 11 games during spring training with the Mariners and batted .200 with 14 plate appearances, recording two hits, four walks, and three strikeouts before he was released on March 19,
Last season, Tucker played between the Rockies and Triple-A Albuquerque. With Triple-A Albuquerque, Tucker played in 70 games and batted .280 with 321 plate appearances, smacking 75 hits, 17 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 35 RBI, seven stolen bases, 49 walks, 67 strikeouts, and a .797 OPS.
He played in the outfield in 44 games in 2023 between the Rockies and Triple-A Albuquerque. Tucker played second base in 20 games and 11 starts at first base during 2023.
Tucker had his contract selected twice from the Rockies in 2023, on August 7 and September 5.
Tucker played in five games with the Rockies in August and September and batted .500 in five games with ten plate appearances, cranking four hits, two RBI, one walk, and two strikeouts before electing free agency.
During his five seasons in the majors, Tucker has a lifetime average of .216, playing in 159 games with 479 plate appearances, smacking 96 hits, 18 doubles, six triples, five home runs, 37 RBI, four stolen bases, 29 walks, 131 strikeouts, and a .584 OPS.