After joining the Astros at the start of the 2019 season, Michael Brantley quickly heard about a standout prospect in the organization. “They were comparing this kid to Ted Williams,” he recalled, feeling intrigued by the idea.
That kid was Kyle Tucker.
The comparisons, though surprising to Brantley, turned out to be more fitting than he initially thought. “I laughed at first because he does so many unconventional things,” Brantley noted. “But when you really analyze his swing, he positions himself exceptionally well.”
Before becoming an acclaimed player and signing a significant $240 million contract with the Dodgers, Tucker’s baseball journey began simply in his Tampa backyard. There, he played makeshift games with his older brother, Preston, who was six years his senior and carved his own path to the MLB.
The genesis of Tucker’s talent was straightforward. Growing up, he emulated Preston—who hit right-handed—by switching to the left side of the plate and mirroring his brother’s distinctive swing.
During their childhood games, they would throw cork balls around, using broomsticks. They even figured out how to adapt standard Wiffle balls to their playful nature.
“They learned everything with their hands,” said Dennis Brown, Tucker’s coach at Plant High School. “That’s how they developed their hitting skills.”
The outcome? Tucker developed a swing with some unorthodox fundamentals. He often stepped up to the plate with an unusual stance, his hands dropping low as he approached the ball. When making contact, his bat traced a sweeping arc, and his follow-through occasionally seemed to cut into his leg.
Yet, through dedicated practice, he learned to maintain harmony in his mechanics, allowing him to hit with power and adapt to various pitches while keeping his hands expertly inside the ball. “You can’t teach that,” Brown explained. “But I always told him not to listen to anyone who doubted his style.”
Comparisons to Williams have lingered, particularly since Tucker’s swing shares striking similarities with the legendary player, who earned the title of “The Greatest Hitter of All Time.”
Back in high school, as a freshman, an assistant coach named John Ramos dubbed him “Ted Williams.” Brown chuckled at the time, concerned that Tucker might feel discouraged by such lofty expectations.
After being picked fifth overall by the Astros in the 2015 draft, scouts started echoing similar sentiments in their reports about Tucker.
“I wasn’t one of those guys who thought he’d be a first-round pick right away,” Brown said. “But each year he grew stronger, and by senior year, we had crowds of hundreds showing up for batting practice.”
In 2018, just months before making his MLB debut at 21, Tucker was even featured in a PBS documentary reenacting Williams’ swing in slow motion, dressing in a vintage uniform.
“He’s been making gradual changes over the years,” Tucker’s mother, Lisa, noted. “But if what he’s doing works, why change it?”
Brantley had a similar takeaway upon meeting Tucker and observing his swing in detail. “It doesn’t look conventional,” Brantley said. “But when you break down the mechanics, his reach and contact points show you something special.”
Over the past five years, Tucker has made a name for himself in Major League Baseball. He became a key player for the Astros in 2020, blending his offensive ability with solid defense and base-stealing skills. By 2021, he reached a personal best with a .294 batting average and 30 homers, earning MVP votes. In 2022, he secured his first of four consecutive All-Star selections and has positioned himself as one of the sport’s most reliable players.
Tucker credits Brantley for his growth. When Brantley arrived in Houston, he took Tucker under his wing, becoming not just a mentor but also a locker mate and hitting partner. He would often tease Tucker about morning workouts, knowing he wasn’t an early riser.
As Brantley plans to retire after the 2023 season, he and Tucker remain close. Tucker intends to wear Brantley’s former number, 23, with the Dodgers as a tribute to his mentor.
Brantley sees it as a heartfelt gesture but insists that Tucker’s success is well-earned. It stems from Tucker’s all-around skill set, his intense love for the game often masked by his quiet nature, and, of course, that unique swing reminiscent of Ted Williams.
“He found his stride and has really shined,” Brantley shared. “He certainly has worked hard to achieve this.”
