Tucker Signs Free-Agent Deal With Seattle Mariners
6/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 2, 2005
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - J.B. Tucker, a fifth-year senior catcher on the Wake Forest baseball team, signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Mariners on Monday (May 30).
"Playing professional baseball has always been a dream of mine," said Tucker. "All I can ask for is an opportunity and I am excited to get that. I had thoughts on waiting to sign until after the draft (next week) but Seattle is a first-class organization. I decided to go ahead and sign now, I'll start playing immediately. I'm ready to hit the ground running."
He will report to the Mariners' spring training facility in Peoria, Arizona for mini-camp on June 9. Tucker will debut with the Everett AquaSox (Class A Short-Season) in the Northwest League.
An All-ACC second team selection at catcher, Tucker helped the Demon Deacons to a 28-30 overall record -- an 11 victory improvement from 2004. He was also vital as Wake Forest eliminated Duke, Maryland and North Carolina from the 2005 ACC Tournament.
Tucker, one of four Demon Deacons to start all 58 games, ended the year with a .322 batting average. He led Wake Forest in hits (79), doubles (24), home runs (13), RBI (65), total bases (142), slugging percentage (.590) and sacrifice flies (8). Among the Demon Deacon single-season `Top 10', Tucker was fifth in doubles. Tucker threw out 19 runners trying to steal and committed just two passed ball all season. He also scored 56 runs and walked 32 times.
At the end of the regular season, Tucker ranked among the ACC leaders in numerous offensive categories. He ranked sixth in home runs, sixth in doubles, sixth in total bases, seventh in RBI and 10th in slugging percentage. Tucker also put together a career-best 16-game hitting streak over the final three weeks of the regular season. During the stretch, he batted .460 with seven doubles, six home runs and 24 RBI. The 16-game hitting streak was a Wake Forest season-high as well.
During his two years at Wake Forest, Tucker played in 98 games, starting 97, recording a career .295 batting average with 18 home runs and 99 RBI. The Bradenton, Fla., native set personal-highs in every offensive category this season.
-- WakeForestSports.com --