Baseball took Pirates shortstop Cole Tucker to school in 2019

Shortstop Cole Tucker’s chat with reporters at PiratesFest included references to his hair, knee, athleticism and hitting stroke, second base, Bryan Reynolds, Mike Trout, Adrian Beltre, Cody Bellinger, his European vacation, younger brother Carson and the man everyone calls Shelty.

And, yes, it only took 17 minutes.

The main theme, however, was how difficult and unforgiving baseball can be for a rookie.

To be clear, however, Tucker plays shortstop like a gymnast. His quick first step – he says it can be quicker – turns many groundballs that look like hits into outs. Then, he can jump, spin and throw, making it appear to be one motion.

But the challenge for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2014 No. 1 draft choice comes with a bat in his hand.

He was good in Triple-A Indianapolis last season, slashing .261/.346/.413 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs in 77 games. Summoned to Pittsburgh when Erik Gonzalez suffered a separated shoulder, he hit only .211/.266/.361 in 56 games.

Grounded, thoughtful and confident, he suffered the failure and tried to learn from it.

“What I took away most,” he said, “was that you just can’t show up and just athletically be more gifted than other people like you might have been able to get away with in the minor leagues. You have to have a plan and you have to make adjustments and you have to really rely on your approach and have a good approach.

“Because of the failure or the information I was given last year, I definitely feel confident about what I can do going into this year. I can be that guy I was in Indy in Pittsburgh. I know that and I believe this team knows that.”

Tucker’s path to the starting lineup is blocked by shortstop Kevin Newman, who hit .308 as a rookie last year. A move to second base for either player seems unlikely as long as Adam Frazier is on the team, but Tucker said he’s open to anything.

“I need to do whatever this new staff tells me I need to do,” he said, noting second base never has come up in his discussions with management. “But as of now I think of myself as a shortstop. Newman had a really good year last year, but people forget he was Gonzo’s backup going into the year. You never know what happens.”

When it was suggested that he almost needed to struggle as part of his development, Tucker laughed, rocked back in his chair and said, “Well, Reynolds didn’t.”

“He was just a freak everywhere he went,” Tucker said of the Pirates outfielder who hit .314/.377/.503 as a rookie last year. “The only time I ever saw Reynolds struggle was in the Arizona Fall League, but he was banged up ready to go home, ready to marry his wife. He was checked out.”

Reynolds aside, Tucker said, “The game definitely can humble you and teach you.”

“Not to get deep and dark and sad, but Mike Trout wasn’t very good when he got up. Adrian Beltre wasn’t that good when he got up.”

Tucker did his homework. Trout is a three-time American League MVP, but he hit .220 in 40 games as a rookie in 2011. Beltre hit .215 in 1998, but retired with a lifetime .286 batting average and 477 home runs.

“Not saying I’m going to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Tucker said, “but the game can teach you stuff and you can bounce back from it.”

Tucker believes the key for him this season will be a better path to the pitched ball.

“It sounds very basic and it is, but it’s hard to do,” he said. “My whole career, I just competed and competed and competed and really had no idea what I was doing physically.

“I’ve really been trying to hone that in. The thought of being good with my path and my direction is going to keep me in the (hitting) zone (longer). Instead of crushing a line drive top-spin into right field, I might hit a ball really high, really far to right-center.”

That’s what he worked on the offseason while hitting with his best friend from high school, National League MVP Cody Bellinger.

First, Tucker needed to rehab a late-season knee injury.

“After just three, four weeks of just getting (physical therapy), getting love on it, it felt better. It’s not really something I’m thinking about, which is nice,” he said.

He also vacationed in England, Ireland and The Netherlands and counseled his younger brother, Carson, also a shortstop, who has attracted attention from major-league scouts.

“I wish I could be there in the spring (to watch him play), but we got stuff to do here. We got fun to have here. Some haircuts to not get here.”

That’s the other thing: Pirates manager Derek “Shelty” Shelton, like his predecessor Clint Hurdle, will allow Tucker to keep his impressive head of hair.

Not surprisingly, Tucker said he likes the atmosphere Shelton is creating around the team.

“The feel with the coaching staff and the team right now, just the vibe, is way better,” Tucker said. “That’s not to kick dirt on anyone because that’s not what I’m here to do. I really like where we’re at. It just seems cozy and team-y and fun.

“He doesn’t want me to get a haircut, which I like. He doesn’t want to wear suits on the plane. He’s laid back.

“It feels like that fun and that embracing yourself and that collective excitement is just going to be celebrated more. I’m not going to have a completely different personality this year, but I think we’re going to be freed up to do that if we wish.

“That is something that we need. We need that excitement. We need to play with energy.”

Tucker cited the American League champion Houston Astros as an example.

“When you watch the Astros play, they are super confident,” he said. “Not saying we have to go out and beat our chest, but I think we need to get back to going out and having fun. Shelty and these guys are going to give us the opportunity to do that.”

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