Tucker close to return after ankle sprain in Classic

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Relax, Astros fans. Kyle Tucker is going to be just fine.

Tucker, who suffered a mild right ankle sprain in Team USA’s 9-7 win over Venezuela in Sunday’s quarterfinal matchup of the World Baseball Classic in Miami, returned to Astros camp Thursday at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches and went through some drills, including some light running and hitting. He hopes to play Saturday or Sunday -- Houston's final two Grapefruit League games this spring.

“Against Venezuela, in the first inning, I had that knock past short, and when they threw to third, I went to second and I kind of rolled my ankle on the bag,” Tucker said. “It’s a little ankle sprain kind of thing. It’s not bad."

Tucker didn’t play in the semifinals against Cuba or the championship game against Japan as a precaution. He said he didn’t want to push it, especially with a solid hand like Cedric Mullins able to take his place in left field.

“He’s a pretty good replacement, you know?” Tucker said. “It made it a little easier. I still wanted to play every single game. I know it’s early in the year, so it’s kind of like an awkward and tough situation. Just didn’t feel good enough to go out there and play the best I could, and also knowing you have an All-Star-caliber player to play anyway. That’s how the situation was.”

The quarterfinal win over Venezuela was the same game in which Tucker’s Astros teammate, Jose Altuve, broke his right thumb when he was hit by a pitch. Tucker was in left field when the play occurred and kept trying to get the attention of Venezuela manager Omar Lopez -- the Astros’ first-base coach -- to find out if Altuve was OK.

Altuve had surgery Wednesday and will miss at least two months.

“It’s tough,” Tucker said. “I didn’t have the best view out in left. I was hoping it ran up and in and went by him or hit the bat or something or didn’t hurt him too bad. Obviously, it is what it is. … Hopefully he can get back as soon as possible."

Tucker, who caught the final out of the 2022 World Series, said the atmosphere of the WBC was “relatively the same” as the Fall Classic.

“The crowd is probably just as loud and into the game as the playoffs are,” he said. “Instead of just rooting for their own MLB team, you’re rooting for your country as a team. I would say atmosphere and noise-wise, it was probably roughly the same.”

All in all, Tucker said the WBC was an unforgettable experience and one he would like to experience again.

“I always think the coolest part is hanging out with the guys,” he said. “They’re all on different teams, and you never get to have a personal relationship with those guys. We get to play against them and say ‘What’s up?’ on the field, but never in the same locker room or go grab a dinner or something together. Doing stuff like that and actually getting to know them as a person more than a player is pretty cool."