T. J. Tucker
Encyclopedia
Thomas John "T. J." Tucker (born September 20, 1978 in Clearwater, Florida
) is a former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
. Choosing to forgo his scholarship offer to kick for the University of Florida
Tucker was drafted 47th overall in the MLB draft
by the Montreal Expos
. He pitched for the Montreal Expos
in , and from -, and the Washington Nationals
(relocated from Montreal) in .
In , Tucker pitched for the Bridgeport Bluefish
until his release on August 22. He had a 7.39 ERA
in 34 games.
in New Port Richey, Florida
. On December 11, 2004, Tucker married Laura Denis. His daughter Mackenzie was born in 2007. From August 2009 until August 2010, Tucker was an owner and Director of Operations with Z&T Lawn and Landscape in Palm Harbor, Florida.
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
) is a former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. Choosing to forgo his scholarship offer to kick for the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
Tucker was drafted 47th overall in the MLB draft
MLB Draft
The First-Year Player Draft, also known as the Rule 4 Draft, is Major League Baseball's primary mechanism for assigning amateur baseball players, from high schools, colleges, and other amateur baseball clubs, to its teams. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, with...
by the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. He pitched for the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
in , and from -, and the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
(relocated from Montreal) in .
In , Tucker pitched for the Bridgeport Bluefish
Bridgeport Bluefish
The Bridgeport Bluefish is an American professional baseball team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
until his release on August 22. He had a 7.39 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 34 games.
Personal life
Tucker attended River Ridge High SchoolRiver Ridge High School (Florida)
River Ridge is a public middle/high school complex founded in 1991 in New Port Richey, Florida. It was Florida's first joint middle/high school complex and is a part of the Pasco County School System. Both schools have their own classrooms, media center, and administrators, and share the cafeteria...
in New Port Richey, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. On December 11, 2004, Tucker married Laura Denis. His daughter Mackenzie was born in 2007. From August 2009 until August 2010, Tucker was an owner and Director of Operations with Z&T Lawn and Landscape in Palm Harbor, Florida.