Astros' Tucker promoted to Double-A Hooks

The Astros are getting aggressive with one of their most prized prospects. 
Kyle Tucker, ranked by MLB.com as the No. 30 overall prospect and No. 2 in the Houston system, has been promoted from Class A Advanced Buies Creek to Double-A Corpus Christi. Fellow outfielder and No. 26 Astros prospect Jason Martin will also make the move from the Carolina League to the Texas League, the club confirmed.

The Hooks had only three outfielders listed on their active roster -- Drew Ferguson, Alejandro Garcia and Ramón Laureano -- following the announcement that 2014 eighth-rounder Bobby Boyd had retired Sunday. Garcia was promoted to Triple-A Fresno as part of Tuesday's moves.
Taken fifth overall in the 2015 Draft, Tucker is in the midst of an impressive second full season. The 20-year-old, left-handed slugger produced a .288/.379/.554 line with nine homers, four triples, 12 doubles and 13 stolen bases in 48 games with Buies Creek. With one more long ball, he'll join Reading's Scott Kingery (16 homers, 12 steals) as the only Minor Leaguers with double-digit homers and steals.

A Florida native, Tucker has played all three outfield spots this season, and his defensive versatility may be helping this quick ascent to Double-A. Padres No. 4 prospect Luis Urías, who turns 20 on June 3, will be the only regular Texas League position player younger than Tucker upon his arrival with Corpus Christi.
Martin, an eighth-round pick in 2013, will be making the jump after 156 games at the Class A Advanced level. The 21-year-old was hitting .287/.354/.494 with seven homers and nine steals over 46 contests this year, including a three-homer performance earlier this month.