Tucker trying to make Braves’ decision harder

Outfielder could be sent to minors when Acuna is called up.

WASHINGTON — Preston Tucker and pinch-hitting haven’t had a great relationship in his brief major league career, but the Braves outfielder knows that could soon be a big part of his role. That’s assuming he sticks around after top prospect Ronald Acuna is brought to the major leagues.

“It’s not something you really get used to, just because you never really know if you’re going to hit (in a game),” Tucker said of pinch-hitting. “But, I mean, I expect to do it at least some of the time here, so.”

If Tucker keeps hitting with anywhere near the proficiency he’s demonstrated in the early going, there seems a good chance he either stays on the major league roster or is brought back during the season if he gets sent to Triple-A. Unlike the Braves’ other current extra outfielders, pinch-hit maven Lane Adams and speedy defensive stalwart Peter Bourjos, Tucker has a minor league option and can be sent to the minors without being exposed to waivers.

Handling the left-field duties until Acuna arrives, Tucker was hitting .370 (10 for 27) with two doubles, two homers, nine RBIs and a 1.067 OPS before the current series opener at Washington started.

The Braves could bring up Acuna as soon as Saturday at Chicago, the first date on which he could debut and still not get a full year of service time this season. That’s important because it would give the Braves a full extra season of contractual control before Acuna could potentially become a free agent in seven years instead of six.

Given Tucker’s big contributions to the Braves’ start, it’s possible the Braves could delay Acuna’s arrival at least until some point during the next homestand that starts this Monday. Or maybe not.

Tucker and the other outfielders not named Ender Inciarte or Nick Markakis can only speculate who’ll be sent down to make room for the kid when he arrives and takes over in left field.

“I’m definitely enjoying my time here,” Tucker said. “It’s a lot of fun when we’re winning, so I think if we can keep doing what we’re doing and we’ve got a good thing going in the clubhouse . ... Obviously if you bring him (Acuna) up, if he plays to his potential, he can help any team win. So I think you really have to figure out who fits in what role and if we bring him up, how the rest of that shakes out.”

Adams was 3 for 6 as pinch hitter and had the majors’ only pinch homer this season before Monday.

Tucker has refined his swing some since getting past shoulder problems he played through for a couple of years in the Astros organization. Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer has been impressed since early in spring training by how much better a hitter Tucker is now than the swing-for-the-fences guy Seitzer saw in video from Tucker’s past.

Tucker was asked Monday if he thought he’d shown the Braves what he needed to this spring and in the early season to give them something to think about when it’s time to make roster moves.

“I think so,” he said. “Obviously there’s always room for improvement, but I think I’m fairly happy with what I’ve done so far.”

KEVIN C. COX / GETTY IMAGES Braves outfielder Preston Tucker was hitting .370 (10 for 27) with two doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs through Sunday’s games.