Thomas John Tucker...married the former Laura Denis on December 11, 2004...a 1997 graduate of River Ridge
(FL) High, where he was an All-America kicker...was recruited as a punter and place-kicker by the University of
Florida, but turned down Steve Spurrier's scholarship offer to play baseball...enjoys golf and fishing in spare time.
2005
Placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 19 because of an inflamed right elbow. It was Tucker's second stint on the disabled list. He missed 32 games because of a right groin strain. For the season, Tucker is 1-0 with a 6.39 ERA.
2004
Began the season in the minor leagues, but was recalled on April 27 and proceeded to produce finest big league
campaign to date...became one of Frank Robinson's most dependable middle relievers...went 4-2 with a 3.72 ERA in 54
games (one start)...posted a 3.03 ERA in 53 games out of the bullpen...recorded career-best efforts in ERA (3.72), runs
allowed (28), walks (17), batting average against (.275), on-base percentage against (.326), slugging percentage against
(3.89) and pitches per inning (15.6)...relief ERA on zero days rest was 9.72 (9 ER/8.1 IP)...with one or more days rest
Tucker's relief ERA was 1.89 (12 ER/57.0 IP)...flashed improved command...walked only 2.26 batters per 9.0 innings
pitched...posted 2.6/1 strikeouts-to-walk ratio in 2004...ratio was 2.35 in 2003...went 3-0 with a 3.65 ERA at The Big
O...earned 3 holds: May 2 at LA, June 16 vs. MIN and July 24 vs. FLA...went 1-0 with a 0.63 ERA in 11 July
appearances...retired 31 of 53 first batters faced (58%)...pitches per inning dropped for the 3rd straight year (17.1 in
2002, 16.2 in '03, 15.6 in '04)...posted a relief ERA under 3.00 in May (2.79), July (0.63), August (1.80) and September/
October (2.54)...pitched better with runners on base (.246 batting average against) than with the bags empty (.305
batting average against)...3 of 5 homers allowed came with 2 strikes...worked a season-high 3.0 innings twice: June 16
vs. MIN and Sept. 14 at FLA...tossed season-best 11.1 consecutive scoreless innings, July 3-24.
With Edmonton: Posted a 2.77 spring ERA, but was optioned to Triple-A Edmonton on April 3...went 2-0 with a 4.86 ERA
in 3 starts for the Trappers before being recalled by the Expos.
Game-By-Game Highlights: Did not get a decision, but pitched in the Expos' final game in Montreal, September 29 vs.
FLA...worked 3.0 scoreless innings, September 14 at FLA...made emergency start in 2nd game of doubleheader, August
18 at SF...was not named the starter until the completion of the twinbill's opener...took the loss...allowed 6 runs on
6 hits and 2 walks in an eventual 14-4 setback...threw 60 pitches...struck out 3 in 2.0 scoreless innings, August 8 at
HOU, to earn the win in Expos' 5-2 victory...win was special because Tucker's boyhood idol-Roger Clemens-took the
loss in that game.
2003
Tucker finished 2-3 with a 4.73 ERA in 45 games for the Expos...pitched primarily as a reliever, but also
made seven starts...struggled through the beginning of the season...was optioned to Edmonton on July 9 after posting
a 5.95 ERA in his first 33 appearances (one start)...after pitching well for the Trappers, was recalled on July 31...closed
on a strong note, going 2-2 with a 3.12 ERA (12 ER/34.2 IP) in 12 games (six starts)...walked 2 and struck out 19 during
the season-ending 2-month stretch...after being recalled, registered a 1.69 ERA in August as the Expos pulled into a tie
for the N.L. Wild Card on August 28.
2003 Highlights:
AS A STARTER: Went 1-2 with a 4.05 ERA (12 ER/26.2 IP) in 7 starts for the Expos in 2003...Montreal went 3-4 in his
starts...joined the Expos' starting rotation for a 6-start stretch, August 19-September 17, going 1-2 with a 4.56 ERA...earned
his only career win in a starting role on September 12 vs. New York, allowing 2 runs in 6.0 innings...worked a career-long
6.0 innings twice (August 29 at Florida)...walked one, fanned 16 in a starter's role as opposed to a 19-31 ratio as a
reliever...had not started a game at the big league level since making a pair of starts in June of 2000.
BEST START: Did not walk a batter while scattering 5 hits in 6.0 scoreless innings on August 29 at Florida in his finest
big league start to date...however, the bullpen could not hold a late lead and lost, 3-2.
IN RELIEF: Was 1-1 with 3 holds and a 5.06 ERA (30 ER/53.1 IP) in 38 games...7 of 8 home runs allowed out of the
'pen...pocketed the 3 holds on May 12 at San Francisco, June 28 at Toronto and July 5 at Atlanta...squandered only save
opportunity of the season on April 6 at New York...retired 30 of 38 first batters faced (79%)...with 2.0 scoreless innings,
earned lone relief win in the season finale, September 28 at Cincinnati..stranded 10 of 18 (56%) of inherited baserunners.
LONG AFTERNOON: Worked a bullpen-season high 4.0 innings in 6-3 setback vs. Houston on April 27, the longest
relief appearance of his career...Julio Manon later matched it with a 4.0-inning stint, June 5 in Puerto Rico vs. Anaheim.
AT THE PLATE: Went 5-for-19 (.263) with a double at the plate...enjoyed a 4-for-9 surge from August 19-September 6.
WITH EDMONTON: Optioned to Edmonton on July 9, took advantage of his three-week stint, going 1-0 with a 2.76 ERA
(5 ER/16.1 IP) in 3 starts for the Trappers...limited opposing PCL batters to a .262 batting average...scattered 3 hits and
2 walks in 6.0 scoreless innings during his first Triple-A assignment, July 12 vs. Fresno (Giants)...made final Triple-A
start on July 25 vs. Tucson (Diamondbacks)...touched for one run in 4.1 innings...was recalled by the Expos on July 31.
MORE HIGHLIGHTS: Worked 12.1 scoreless innings against Florida...did not allow a run in 10.1 innings at Pro Player
Stadium...Montreal went 15-30 when T.J. pitched...averaged 16.2 pitches per inning...finished 1-1 with a 6.86 ERA (15
ER/19.2 IP) at Olympic Stadium...went 0-0 with a 7.88 ERA (7 ER/8.0 IP) at Estadio Hiram Bithorn...7 of 8 home runs
allowed came prior to the All-Star break.
2002
Tucker played his first full season in the majors, posting a 6-3 record with a 4.11 ERA (28 ER-61.1 IP) in 57 relief appearances... Marked his first wins and saves of his major-league career... Saw his first action with the Expos since making two starts in 2000... Served different roles pitching out of the bullpen, including short and long relief, early and late, as well as the role of set-up man and closer... His four saves led all National League rookies, while his 57 appearances ranked tied for fourth among NL freshmen pitchers... Missed 18 games and 19 days of action when he was sidelined on the 15-day disabled list August 18-September 6, suffering from a lower back sprain... Burst on the scene with a great start, going 4-0 with four saves and a 1.75 ERA (9 ER-46.1 IP) in 40 games prior to the All-Star Break... Showed signs of fatigue in the season's second half, registering a 2-3 record and an 11.40 ERA (19 ER-15.0 IP) in 17 games... Made the fourth-most relief appearances on the team, behind only Scott Stewart (67), Matt Herges (62) and Joey Eischen (59)...
- SAVING GRACE: His first save came April 16 at Olympic Stadium, saving an 8-4 win for the Expos over the visiting Chicago Cubs... Induced Sammy Sosa into a game-ending groundout... Picked up his other save May 18 in a 3-1 win at Los Angeles...Registered saves in back-to-back games June 7-8 at Comiskey Park, pitching a combined 2.1 scoreless innings to preserve one-run wins against the White Sox...
- THE FIRST TIME: Earned his first-ever ML victory April 24 vs Milwaukee, getting the winning decision in a 5-4 home win... Pitched the final 3.0 innings for the Expos, allowing only one hit and one walk... Montreal won the game in 15 innings...
- MAY FLOWERS: Went a perfect 3-0 with one save and a 2.16 ERA (4 ER-16.2 IP) in 13 relief outings in the month of May... Followed a 1-0, 1.88 ERA (3 ER-14.1 IP) start in 13 games pitched in April, including one save...
- STREAK SHOW: Picked up a win in three straight appearances May 21, 25, 29... Also earned wins in two straight appearances July 26-30...
- IT HAD TO END SOMETIME: Broke a four-game winning streak with his first loss of the year July 12 in a home game against the Atlanta Braves... Surrendered three runs in 1.1 innings... Entered the game to start the eighth inning in relief of Tomo Ohka with the Expos leading 3-1... A two-run HR by Gary Sheffield in the eighth frame tied the game and gave Tucker his third blown save of the year... Atlanta went on to win 8-3... His loss ended a perfect 4-0 personal start...
- HOME COOKING: Allowed a run in only two of his first 13 home games... Began the season with a string of just two runs allowed in 14.2 innings over those 13 games at Olympic Stadium...
2001
Tucker rediscovered his ways and solidified himself as a top prospect after recovering from right elbow surgery done in July, 2000... Made a total of 27 starts and threw 166 innings at the AA and AAA levels, establishing career highs in both categories... Started the season with AA-Harrisburg and gave up only one earned run in 21 innings through his first three starts, posting a 3-0 mark and a 0.43 earned run average... Lost his next three starts April 21-May 1, allowing 15 earned runs in 16 innings (8.44 ERA)... Got back on track by giving up two earned runs or fewer in four consecutive starts May 24-June 16 (5 ER-26 IP), earning himself a promotion to AAA-Ottawa... Picked up the win in his first International League start June 21, going five innings against AAA-Durham... Went 1-2 in six starts in August/September, despite a 2.13 ERA (9 ER-38 IP)... Struck out 10 batters August 15 to help defeat AAA-Pawtucket... Tossed his only complete game (8.0 IP) in his next start but took the loss against AAA-Rochester.
2000
T.J. made a brief two-start stint with the Expos from June 3-9, 2000...In his Major League debut on June 3 against the Orioles, was not involved in the decision in a 7-4 Expos' win...Allowed four runs on six hits including three home runs in 4.0 innings of work...Walked Brady Anderson, the first batter faced before allowing his first hit to Cal Ripken Jr., and his first home run to Albert Belle...Surrendered back-to-back home runs to B.J. Surhoff and Charles Johnson in the 4th inning...Hit an infield single off Pat Rapp before coming around to score... Made his second ML start on June 9 at Toronto, allowing five runs on five hits in 3.0 innings of work for the loss...Left the game with forearm pain...Was placed on the disabled list on June 10...Underwent exploratory arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow on July 20 by Dr. Frank Cook at the Jupiter Medical Clinic in Florida... Dr. James Andrews performed a second surgery on July 25 to remove tissues from his elbow...Missed the remainder of the season...Had never played above the AA level...Registered his first win in his firth start on May 16, tossing a season-long 8.0 innings against AA-New Britain, allowing only one hit and four walks... Allowed five home runs in his first three starts...Made his last start in the Eastern League on May 26 at New Haven, registering his second win of the season.
1999
Tucker enjoyed a brilliant start to the season in 1999 but was slowed by injuries later in the campaign...Was absolutely dominant starting the season at A-Jupiter, winning each of his first five starts of the season...Did not yield a single run in his first four starts, spanning a total of 24.2 IP...Gave up two runs while getting the win on April 30 vs Kissimmee, which snapped a personal scoreless inning streak at 31.2 IP dating back to 1998...Was selected Expos Organization Pitcher-of-the Month for April after going 5-0, 0.58 ERA in five starts...Was promoted to AA-Harrisburg on May 18 and was an immediate success...Won his first five decisions with the Senators from May 18-June 18...Posted a 0.84 ERA over his first five starts and did not permit more than one run in any of those starts...Won his fourth straight decision on June 13 vs Altoona...The win gave him a combined 9-1 record with a 1.07 ERA between Jupiter and Harrisburg...Reeled of his fifth straight win with Harrisburg in impressive fashion with the best start of his career as he tossed a three-hit shutout vs Trenton in the second game of a twinbill on June 18...It was his first career complete game and shutout, as he fanned eight batters and issued just one walk...Suffered his first loss in his next start on June 24 at Portland that would start a four-game losing skid spanning six starts from June 24-July 22...Was suffering from elbow problems and did not make another start until August 4...Managed to reel off three straight wins from August 4-14, but posted a 4.50 ERA during that stretch...After compiling a 6.07 ERA over the final two months of the season, was shut down with elbow inflammation and did not appear in the playoffs as Harrisburg captured its fourth consecutive Eastern League title.
1998
Tucker spent his time in 1998 with three different clubs at the Single-A level and his overall record was 5-2, 1.38 ERA (12 ER-78.0 ML) in 12 starts...Allowed just three earned runs in 36.0 innings with the Gulf Coast Expos while striking out 40 battersb&Joined A-Vermont at the end of July and made six starts in the New-York-Penn Leagueb&Made a pair of appearances with A-Jupiter in the Florida State League to close out the season...In 1997, made is professional debut with the Gulf Coast Expos after being chosen 47th overall in the sandwich round of the June draft.
