Braves’ Tucker has shown value as pinch-hitter

Preston Tucker appears safe for the time being on the Braves’ roster. But before Sunday there was at least some cause for concern, because he has a minor league option and could be sent down without going through waivers.

But that was before the Braves released veteran Jose Bautista on Sunday and made Johan Camargo their starting third baseman.

If they had wanted to prolong the seemingly inevitable Bautista decision, they could’ve kept him around another week or two in hopes he’d start to produce, in which case the Braves would’ve needed to move a position player in order to add a reliever and keep Luiz Gohara on schedule to make his first start of the season Wednesday.

Since utility players Ryan Flaherty and Charlie Culberson are out of minor league options, the Braves would’ve either had to put one of them on waivers – Flaherty seemed fairly safe – or send down one of the two backup position players with options, Camargo or outfielder/pinch-hitter Tucker.

The Bautista decision eliminated the need to make that harder choice. But what might it have been if the Braves did make it?

Flaherty and Culberson have an advantage of being versatile defensively. Flaherty, after batting .362 (21-for-58) with six extra-base hits, eight RBIs and a .971 OPS in his first 18 games, was just 8-for-46 (.174) with one extra-base hit, two RBIs and a .464 OPS in his past 15 games before Sunday.

Culberson has stepped it up some in May, going 6-for-21 (.286) with two triples in 10 games before Sunday. For the season he still was hitting .188 (9-for-48) with three extra-base hits, two RBIs, 15 strikeouts and a .556 OPS in 26 games. And as a pinch-hitter, he was 2-for-14 with no walks and seven strikeouts.

Tucker, the starting left fielder before phenom Ronald Acuna was called up on April 25, had a .279 average (24-for-86) with seven doubles, three homers, 19 RBIs and a .780 OPS in 28 games before Sunday, including three go-ahead RBIs and one game-winning RBIs.

And Tucker has been impressive as a pinch-hitter, a difficult role for those without extensive experience. He was 6-for-16 with a double and an .849 OPS as a pinch-hitter this season before Sunday.

“Coming into camp I said I’d be ready for whatever,” Tucker said. “I think I’m getting the hang of not being surprised at all (when called upon). I think that’s big for me, so if I can feel comfortable in whatever situation they throw me in and I think I’m going to have some success there.”

Braves manager Brian Snitker praised Tucker a few days ago for how he’s adapted to the pinch-hitting role and giving the Braves some big hits all season. Still, Tucker knows there are no givens when it comes to roster decisions.

“There’s a ton of competition on this team. That’s always a good thing,” he said. “Fortunately I think I’ve pulled my weight here to where I have a role on this team, and I think there’s going to be some big situations that come up and I’m going to be thrown into those; I think I’m the best guy for that. So hopefully I can keep producing for this team and show that I deserve a spot on this roster the whole year.”