D-backs claim former Pirates infielder, Valley native Cole Tucker

The Arizona Diamondbacks claimed former Pittsburgh Pirates infielder and Mountain Pointe High School standout Cole Tucker off waivers on Sunday, the team announced.

The D-backs optioned Tucker to Triple-A Reno and designated pitcher Jacob Webb for assignment in a corresponding move.

Tucker, who is from Phoenix, was a first-round pick in the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft by the Pirates out of high school. He was committed to play for the University of Arizona before the draft.

He was ranked the second-best high school player in Arizona by Baseball America ahead of the 2014 draft after hitting .405 at Mountain Pointe as a senior, according to MaxPreps. No. 1 was Boston Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo.

Tucker was Pittsburgh’s No. 5 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s rankings in 2019 before he made his MLB debut that season. The rookie played 56 games, primarily at shortstop, and blasted a home run during his first game.

First the lightning, then the thunder.

With a storm brewing in the distance, Cole Tucker cranked his first #MLB home run in his @MLB debut!

Check out how all the @Pirates‘ prospects are doing today: https://t.co/3Uc9QyPSd1 pic.twitter.com/pjVRH95X01

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 20, 2019

The 25-year-old has 156 major league games under his belt over four seasons, although he has yet to stick in the big leagues.

Tucker had a slash line of .175/.175/.222 with Pittsburgh in 18 contests this season before the Pirates designated him for assignment on Monday.

He will provide organizational depth at shortstop as Nick Ahmed deals with a shoulder injury. Ahmed was recently shut down as he was working his way back to the club from the injured list.

Webb pitched six games for the Aces but did not take the hill for Arizona this season.

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