Kyle Tucker Expected to Be September Call-up for Astros

Baseball's top prospects all have their sights set on September 1, as it marks the day major league rosters expand to allow the team to carry 40 players. Many prospects who weren't given the opportunity to reach the bigs will have their shot in the season's concluding month.

And expect one of those guys to be Kyle Tucker, the Houston Astros top hitting prospect. Tucker has been raking all year in Triple-A, though he hasn't been rewarded with a promotion. Expect that to change when rosters expand.

Tucker was called up during the 2018 season, but struggled mightily in his brief taste of big-league action. He went 9-for-64 in 28 games and has not been recalled since. There is no rush for Tucker as he still has time to develop at only 22-years old, but it looks like his next opportunity is waiting in the wings.

His calling card is his power. Tucker has clubbed 93 home runs in the minor leagues, including 32 in 2018. He's slashing .268/.353/.570 on the year, having driven in 93 runs and stolen 28 bases.

Josh Reddick has only hit .192 during the second half of the season, marking the second straight year he has struggled after the All-Star break. Perhaps Tucker will be called upon to step in and try to increase the production from the outfield.

With Tucker's promotion looming, the Astros have a real chance to further improve one of baseball's most talented rosters. We'll see if the outfielder's excellent season in the minors translates when he gets sent up to Houston.