Checking in on Cole Tucker’s video game skills

With no real baseball going on, we now have to settle for video game baseball.

Major League Baseball recently started the “MLB The Show Players League” in which every team has a player representative to compete with each other on the popular baseball video game. Similarly, the NBA recently held a tournament on NBA 2K20. For the Pirates, Cole Tucker is the guy. Ironically for him, he may not even be on the game’s roster given to him.

On MLB The Show 20, the Pirates are ranked as the 25th best team. They are ranked in 10th in contact, dead last in power, 23rd in pitching, 14th in defense, and 19th in speed. Through Wednesday’s results, Tucker and the Pirates are last in the NL Central with a 2-6 record. Amir Garrett of the Reds and Ian Happ of the Cubs are tied for first in the division, both having 6-2 records. That said, divisions do not matter as the eight best teams overall will make the postseason.

The format of this league is simple. Each player will participate in 29 three innings games. The regular season will run through April 28.

Some notable elite gamers in this league are Joey Gallo of the Rangers (8-0), Bo Bichette of the Blue Jays (7-1), and Gavin Lux of the Dodgers (7-1).

Don’t worry about the slow start, Tucker still has time to make a run. He will play four games this Saturday night (starting at 9 p.m. ET) against Rhys Hoskins of the Phillies, Fernando Tatis Jr. of the Padres, Eduardo Rodriguez of the Red Sox, and Blake Snell of the Rays.

You can watch these games on Twitch.