Former Pittsburgh Pirates first-round draft pick Cole Tucker’s playing days are over.
The 28-year-old husband of superstar singer and actress Vanessa Hudgens, tells the Post-Gazette’s Jason Mackey that he knew it was time to step away from the game.
Being a new father, having a 10-month-old at home, “it takes so much to do what we as baseball players do to what you have to give of your body, your soul and attention.”
With Tucker spending time in the minor leagues, hoping to get called up, he decided being a father and helping his son become a good person is more important than the at bats he would have in a minor league game.
“It felt like time,” said Tucker. “If I had a big-league job and they were paying me to be on the team and I knew where I was going to be, I would play till I was 50-years-old . . . but my big-league opportunities were dwindling.”
Tucker says he wants to get into broadcasting and is looking into how to become a coach or manager in the MLB someday.
Drafted 24th overall by the Pirates in 2014, Tucker made a memorable MLB debut in 2019 when he hit a two-run home run to center, giving the Pirates a win over the San Francisco Giants.
Tucker would spend time with the Pirates and Triple-A over the next few seasons before he was designated for assignment on May 30, 2022.
Tucker also spent time with the Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels.
He has a .213 lifetime batting average with 40 RBI, 105 hits, 22 doubles, seven triples and five home runs.