Cole Bryson Tucker (born July 3, 1996) is an American former professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball positions, baseball or softball fielding position between second base, second and third base, which is considered to be among the Defensive spectrum, most demanding defensive positions. Historically, the ...

and

outfielder An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to catch ...

. He played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...

Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...

, and

Los Angeles Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...

Amateur career

Tucker attended

Mountain Pointe High School Mountain Pointe High School is a secondary school located in Ahwatukee, Arizona one of eight public high schools serving the Tempe Union High School District. History The Ahwatukee area of Phoenix experienced explosive growth in the 1990s. T ...

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...

, where he played for the school's baseball team. He played for the

United States national baseball team The United States national baseball team, also known as Team USA, represents the United States in international level baseball competitions. The team is currently ranked 5th in the world by the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The United S ...

in the

2013 18U Baseball World Cup The 2013 18U Baseball World Cup was an international baseball competition held in Taichung and Yunlin (Douliu), Taiwan from August 30 to September 8, 2013. There were no games played on August 30 and August 31, due to rain. Medalists Teams The ...

. He committed to play

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played by Student athlete, student-athletes at institutions of higher education. In the United States, college baseball is sanctioned mainly by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); in Japan, ...

at the

University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it ...

Professional career

Pittsburgh Pirates

The

selected Tucker in the first round, with the 24th overall selection, of the

2014 Major League Baseball draft The 2014 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 5 through June 7, 2014, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The first two rounds were conducted on June 5, followed by rounds three through ten on June 6, and the last 30 round ...

. He signed on June 12, 2014 for a signing bonus worth $1,800,000, and spent 2014 with the

Gulf Coast League Pirates The Florida Complex League Pirates are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Pirates. The team plays its hom ...

, where he batted .267 with a .724 OPS. He had been committed to play college baseball for the

Arizona Wildcats The Arizona Wildcats are the sport, athletic teams that represent the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, Tucson. The Wildcats compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Division I, Division I (NCAA Divis ...

. Tucker spent 2015 with the

West Virginia Power The Charleston Dirty Birds are an United States, American professional baseball team based in Charleston, West Virginia. They are a member of the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a MLB Partner League, partner league ...

where he posted a .293

batting average Batting average is a statistic in cricket, baseball, and softball that measures the performance of batters. The development of the baseball statistic was influenced by the cricket statistic. Cricket In cricket, a player's batting average is ...

along with 25 stolen bases and 13 doubles. Tucker returned to the Power in 2016, and was later promoted to the

Bradenton Marauders The Bradenton Marauders are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in Bradenton, Florida, and play their home games at LECOM Park, which also serves as the ...

, where he batted a combined .242 with two

home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the Baseball (ball), ball is hit in such a way that the batting (baseball), batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safe (baseball), safely in one play without any error ( ...

s and 27

runs batted in A run batted in or runs batted in (RBI) is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored (except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play). For example, if th ...

(RBIs) between both teams. In 2017, he began the season with Bradenton and was promoted to the

Altoona Curve The Altoona Curve are a Minor League Baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve (but also alluding to the curveball, a type of pitch). The team plays in the Eastern League and is the Double-A affiliate of ...

in July. In 110 total games, Tucker posted a .275 batting average, six home runs, 50 RBIs, and 47 stolen bases in the 2017 campaign.

MLB.com MLB.com is the official site of Major League Baseball and is overseen by Major League Baseball Advanced Media, L.P. (a subsidiary of MLB). MLB.com is a source of baseball-related information, including baseball news, statistics, and sports colum ...

ranked Tucker as Pittsburgh's fifth-best prospect going into the 2018 season. The Pirates added him to their 40-man roster after the season. He opened the 2019 season with the

Indianapolis Indians The Indianapolis Indians are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and play their home games at Victory ...

. On April 20, he was called up to the major league roster. He made his major league debut that afternoon versus the

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

. During that game Tucker got his first major league hit in his third at bat, hitting a two-run home run off

Derek Holland Derek Lane Holland (born October 9, 1986), nicknamed "Dutch Oven", is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco G ...

over the center field wall at PNC Park to give the Pirates a 3–1 lead. The home run became the game-winning hit after the game was called due to rain. In June, the Pirates

optioned In the film industry, an option agreement is a contract that "rents" the rights to a source material to a potential film producer. It grants the film producer the exclusive option to purchase rights to the source material if they live up to the te ...

Tucker to Indianapolis. In 2020, the Pirates played Tucker as an

, as he slashed .211/.266/.361. The Pirates

Tucker to Indianapolis to start the 2021 season. He played in 13 games for the Pirates in May and July, and another 30 games after he was recalled in August. In 2021, he batted .222/.298/.342 in 43 games. In 2022, Tucker appeared in 18 games for the Pirates, playing second base, shortstop, and right field. He batted .175 before being optioned to Indianapolis on May 12. The Pirates

designated Designation (from Latin ''designatio'') is the process of determining an incumbent's successor. A candidate that won an election, for example, is the ''designated'' holder of the office the candidate has been elected to, up until the candidate's ...

Tucker for assignment on May 30.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On June 5, 2022, the

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...

claimed Tucker off of waivers and optioned him to the

Reno Aces The Reno Aces are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are located in Reno, Nevada, and play their home games at Greater Nevada Field, w ...

of the Triple-A

Pacific Coast League The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...

. On July 8, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A

. In 35 games for Reno, Tucker slashed .237/.297/.325 with two home runs, 13 RBI, and four stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 10.

Colorado Rockies

On December 7, 2022, Tucker signed a minor league deal with the

. He began the 2023 season with the Triple–A

Albuquerque Isotopes The Albuquerque Isotopes are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. They play home games at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at an ...

, playing in 58 games and hitting .311/.420/.460 with 5 home runs and 34 RBI. On August 7, 2023, the Rockies selected Tucker's contract, adding him to the major league roster. In 3 games for Colorado, he went 3–for–7 with 2 RBI and a walk. On August 14, he was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...

following

Sean Bouchard Sean Walter Bernard Bouchard (born May 16, 1996) is an American professional baseball first baseman and outfielder for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022. Amateur career A native of San Diego, Cali ...

's activation from the injured list. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Albuquerque on August 17. On September 5, Tucker was selected back to the major league roster. He was designated for assignment a second time on September 11, after

Kris Bryant Kristopher Lee Bryant (born January 4, 1992), nicknamed "KB", is an American professional baseball designated hitter, outfielder, and third baseman for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the ...

was activated from the injured list. Tucker was again outrighted to Albuquerque after clearing waivers on September 14. On October 4, Tucker elected free agency.

Los Angeles Angels

On January 28, 2024, Tucker signed a minor league contract with the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...

. Unable to make the Mariners roster during spring training, he was granted his release on March 18. On April 10, 2024, Tucker signed a minor league contract with the

. In 10 games for the Triple–A

Salt Lake Bees The Salt Lake Bees are a Minor League Baseball (MiLB) team that plays in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. Based in South Jordan, Utah, the team plays its home games at The Ballpark at Am ...

, he batted .313 with one home run and five RBI. On April 29, Tucker had his contract selected to the major league roster. In 24 games, he hit .180/.263/.300 with three RBI and three stolen bases. On June 17, Tucker was designated for assignment by the Angels. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Salt Lake on June 20. Tucker elected free agency on October 1. On May 20, 2025, Tucker announced his retirement from professional baseball.

Personal life

Tucker grew up as a fan of the

. His father is African American and his mother is European American. His brother Carson was selected by the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...

in the first round of the

2020 Major League Baseball draft The 2020 Major League Baseball draft took place on June 10 and 11, 2020. The draft assigned amateur baseball players to Major League Baseball (MLB) teams. The draft order was set based on the reverse order of the 2019 MLB season standings. In ad ...

. In 2020, Tucker began dating actress

Vanessa Hudgens Vanessa Anne Hudgens ( ; born December 14, 1988) is an American actress and singer. After making her feature film debut in '' Thirteen'' (2003), Hudgens rose to fame portraying Gabriella Montez in the ''High School Musical'' film series (200 ...

. The pair married on December 2, 2023, in

Tulum, Mexico Tulum () is the largest community in the Tulum (municipality), municipality of Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico. It is located on the Caribbean Sea, Caribbean coast of the state, near the site of the archeology, archaeological ruins of Tulum. Histor ...

. The couple had their first child in late June or early July 2024. On July 12, 2025, they announced they were expecting a second child.https://people.com/vanessa-hudgens-pregnant-expecting-baby-no-2-with-husband-cole-tucker-11771034

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tucker, Cole 1996 births Living people African-American baseball players Albuquerque Isotopes players 21st-century American sportsmen Altoona Curve players Arizona Complex League Diamondbacks players Baseball players from Phoenix, Arizona Bradenton Marauders players Colorado Rockies players Gulf Coast Pirates players Indianapolis Indians players Los Angeles Angels players Major League Baseball shortstops Pittsburgh Pirates players Reno Aces players Salt Lake Bees players Surprise Saguaros players West Virginia Power players 21st-century African-American sportsmen