Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45 

Rucker is a bigger and stronger version of his older brother, Jake, a seventh-round pick of the Twins in 2021, who played three seasons at Tennessee. Carson has had a decorated amateur career, playing on a Goodletsville (Tenn.) club that reached the U.S. championship game of the 2016 Little League World Series and winning Division II Class A Mr. Tennessee baseball honors in each of the last two seasons and a state championship with Goodpasture Christian (Madison) in 2022. If he doesn't turn pro this summer, he'll follow his brother's path and play for the Volunteers. 

Rucker's most intriguing tool is his raw power, which earns solid to plus grades. He has a quick right-handed stroke geared to drive balls in the air, and as he continues to add strength, he could provide 20 or more homers per season. He doesn't try to do too much at the plate, using the entire field and making enough contact to tap into his pop.

A shortstop in high school, Rucker will move to third base in college or pro ball. He has good infield actions, but his average arm and speed are better suited for the hot corner. His bat also would profile on the outfield corners, though there's no reason to suspect he won't be able to remain on the dirt.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40 

The first Draft under president of baseball operations Scott Harris and amateur scouting director Mark Conner saw a number of high school players signed away from college commitments. One of them was Rucker, a two-time Mr. Tennessee winner who looked set to join the Vols until the Tigers went above slot to sign the fourth-rounder for $772,500. He made his pro debut with nine games in the Florida Complex League, showing a mix of run production, plate discipline and aggression. 

Rucker earned his status on Draft boards with right-handed pull power. Despite a 43.5 percent ground-ball rate in his brief 2023 stint, he had virtually equal rates of pull and oppo hitting in his small sample size. The power should become more apparent as he physically matures without having to sell out what is a productive swing and keen eye at the plate. Though Rucker is expected to eventually shift to third base, he stayed at shortstop for most of his FCL stint with good numbers. 

While top picks Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle project to be high-risers up the Tigers' system, Rucker could involve more patience. That’s even truer after he suffered a separated shoulder four games into his 2024 season, prompting a move to the full-season injured list. Once he returns to play, his upside for pure hitting and power could prove well worth the wait.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

Rucker is a bigger and stronger version of his older brother, Jake, a seventh-round pick of the Twins in 2021, who played three seasons at Tennessee. Carson has had a decorated amateur career, playing on a Goodletsville (Tenn.) club that reached the U.S. championship game of the 2016 Little League World Series and winning Division II Class A Mr. Tennessee baseball honors in each of the last two seasons and a state championship with Goodpasture Christian (Madison) in 2022. Detroit selected him in the fourth round this July and went above slot to sign him for $772,500. 

Rucker's most intriguing tool is his raw power, which earns solid to plus grades. He has a quick right-handed stroke geared to drive balls in the air, and as he continues to add strength, he could provide 20 or more homers per season. He doesn't try to do too much at the plate, using the entire field and making enough contact to tap into his pop.

A shortstop in high school, Rucker seems likely to move to third base in college or pro ball. He has good infield actions, but his average arm and speed are better suited for the hot corner. His bat also would profile on the outfield corners, though there's no reason to suspect he won't be able to remain on the dirt.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	05/21/2024	FCL Tigers placed 3B Carson Rucker on the full-season injured list.
	05/11/2024	FCL Tigers placed 3B Carson Rucker on the 7-day injured list.
	03/14/2024	3B Carson Rucker assigned to Detroit Tigers Prospects.
	08/01/2023	FCL Tigers activated 3B Carson Rucker.
	08/01/2023	3B Carson Rucker assigned to FCL Tigers.
	07/19/2023	Detroit Tigers signed 3B Carson Rucker.
	05/22/2023	SS Carson Rucker assigned to College Workout.
	05/22/2023	College Workout activated 3B Carson Rucker.