Cole Tucker's spectacular sliding catch marks a memorable outfield debut for Pirates shortstop

Never mind that Cole Tucker had never played outfield before. He has a knack for making dramatic debuts with the Pittsburgh Pirates, whether it’s hitting a game-winning home run or making a sliding catch.

This one didn’t get a curtain call, but Tucker tipped his cap anyway.

The 6-foot-3 shortstop, the Pirates’ 2014 first-round pick whose two-run homer in his first MLB game beat the San Francisco Giants last April, was playing center field for the first time in his career Monday night in an exhibition game against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

When Bradley Zimmer hit a shot to the left-center gap, Tucker raced to his right, his hat falling off and letting his long curly hair float while sliding on his knees on the warning track to make a basket catch — all without crashing into the wall or left fielder Socrates Brito.

? @cotuck's a natural. pic.twitter.com/d6iHT1t2v9

— Pirates (@Pirates) July 21, 2020

“It’s usually like a crazy outfielder coming in and sliding under me, but then it was like a big, 20-something-foot wall,” Tucker said following the 11-7 loss. “That’s kind of daunting. I was freaked out. I would rather miss this ball than break my leg or my arm. I just got in this mode where my athleticism just took over and I slid. I don’t think I did like a cool dive. I just ended up on my knees, which is quirky and weird. But, I definitely, to answer your question, knew the wall was there and that it was coming.”

Manager Derek Shelton used an old baseball adage — the ball will find you — to explain Tucker’s sudden success at a new position. When Tucker played right field in the fifth, Cesar Hernandez led off with a single to right and Carlos Santana flew out to Tucker.

But Shelton called the catch in center “a heck of a play.”

“That’s tough, first time out there and having to navigate the wall,” Shelton said. “From an infielder going to the outfield, the wall is one of the toughest things to navigate, and I thought he did a really nice job with it.”

Shelton and general manager Ben Cherington only approached Tucker about playing the outfield three days earlier, after right fielder Gregory Polanco tested positive for covid-19 and left them with a shortage of outfielders in the final week of training camp. With Kevin Newman starting at short, Tucker was available. More important, he was willing.

“They’re like, ‘Hey, how would you feel about getting some looks in the outfield?’ I was like, ‘Hell yeah, of course.’ I actually used a little more vulgar language,” Tucker said, “but I was very excited just because of the opportunity of getting playing time and having the opportunity to make a difference on the field, and playing somewhere where I think my athleticism will really play. I was excited about it, and I still am excited about it.”

Tucker worked all weekend with outfielders coach Tarrik Brock on his positioning in right and center, learning how to get reads on the batted ball from different angles. Tucker still has to acclimate to the outfield quirks of PNC Park, from the North Side Notch in left-center to the Clemente Wall in right. And he has yet to try left field.

But Tucker now has a new perspective of the baseball diamond after being stationed at short his entire career, save a couple of cameos at second base. Pirates bench coach Don Kelly reminded Tucker he’s still a shortstop and needs to continue to work at the position but that his versatility would ultimately help the team.

Bench coach Don Kelly on Cole Tucker, now playing RF: "Shortstop is your position. You’re not going to lose that. You have to focus on maintaining that. But it will help him and help the team to be able to be more versatile. There’s no doubt in my mind that he can play outfield."

— Adam Berry (@adamdberry) July 21, 2020

The Pirates urged him to be athletic in the outfield, and Tucker said his first experience “felt like second nature.” He got a text message from teammate Jarrod Dyson, a 10-year veteran who won a World Series with Kansas City, telling him that he looked natural and made a great play.

“I loved it. I thought it was cool,” Tucker said. “I’m fast, and I get to be fast out there. Outfield is a lot less technical. It’s more just, ‘Hey, be athletic and go catch the ball and get it in to the people who know what to do with it.’ I kinda like that. I always have considered myself a shortstop. I will for a long time, honestly. But this is new, and it’s exciting. I think it’s something that I can really excel at.

“So, hopefully it plays out the rest of camp, this season and who knows, man. I might be an outfielder for a really long time. The future is unknown. It’s kind of exciting. But I really did enjoy it.”