Michael Tucker

Michael Anthony Tucker (born June 25, 1971) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. Tucker played with the Kansas City Royals (-, -), Atlanta Braves (-), Cincinnati Reds (-), Chicago Cubs (2001), San Francisco Giants (-), Philadelphia Phillies (2005) and New York Mets. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Early career He attended the then Longwood College (at the time an NCAA Division II school) from 1989 through 1992. In November 2005, Tucker was among the selection of Longwood's first Hall of Fame class, including basketball player Jerome Kersey and LPGA golfer Tina Barrett. After college, Tucker begin his pro baseball career in the minors in . Tucker spent most of the 1993 season with the Single-A Carolina League Wilmington Blue Rocks. Before making the move up to Double-A and spending time with the Memphis Chicks of the Southern League. In , Tucker played in Triple-A with the Omaha Royals of the American Association before joining Major League Baseball and the Kansas City Royals. Major League career Tucker made his Major League debut for the Royals at age 23 on April 26, 1995. Starting in left field and batting leadoff, Tucker singled in his first big-league at-bat against pitcher Mike Mussina in a 5-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Before the 1997 season, Tucker was traded to the Braves along with Keith Lockhart in exchange for outfielder Jermaine Dye and pitcher Jamie Walker.