Bizarre Move: Padres Promote OF After 5-Year MLB Absence, Then Place Him On IL

It's not often that a team will select the contract of a player from Triple-A only to immediately place him on the injured list. But there was a method to the madness for the San Diego Padres as they recalled outfielder Preston Tucker. 

The Padres selected Preston Tucker's contract today, meaning he joins the big league roster. He was subsequently placed on the IL with plantar fasciitis. Tucker had an opt-out in his Minors deal, but he's been playing well and the Padres didn't want to lose a useful LH depth bat.

— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) June 18, 2023

As reported by Padres beat writer AJ Cassavell, the Padres were afraid Tucker would opt out of his minor league contract, so decided to add him to the roster despite currently suffering from plantar fasciitis. 

Now at age 32, Tucker hasn't actually played in the majors for five years, since 2018. But after signing his minor-league deal with San Diego in the offseason, he's OPSing a robust 1.126 at AAA, with an incredible slash line of .342/.468/.658 in 44 games with 10 home runs, 36 RBIs and 43 runs. 

After his last season in the majors back in 2018, Tucker headed to the Korean Baseball Organization, where he spent three seasons. He tried his hand back in North America in the minors last year with unremarkable numbers in Atlanta's system, but certainly seems to have found the stroke this season at Triple-A El Paso for the Friars. 

He has no options remaining, so he'll join the Padres major league roster when he recovers from the plantar fasciitis.

Photo: GABY VELASQUEZ/ EL PASO TIMES / USA TODAY NETWORK