Pirates recall SS Cole Tucker from Indianapolis, place OF Ka'ai Tom on 10-day IL

Cole Tucker is back in the big leagues and the Pittsburgh Pirates have plans to keep him in the infield — at least for now.

The 2014 first-round pick, a natural shortstop who played 32 games in the outfield last season, was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday to replace outfielder Ka’ai Tom on the major league roster. Tom was placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 19) with a left wrist contusion.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton cited Tucker’s ability to play multiple positions and the improvements he’s made swinging the bat among the reasons for his recall.

“I think there are a lot of reasons that go into it, but it’s an opportunity to see Cole,” Shelton said. “I think we’re going to use him as an infielder, but his versatility helps us if we need him to go to the outfield. I mean, Adam Frazier is an infielder, but he’s jumped into the outfield a couple of times. So I think we’ll see how the game kind of takes it.”

Tucker lost out to Kevin Newman and Erik Gonzalez in the three-way competition for the starting shortstop job in spring training, and the Pirates kept Tucker in Bradenton through April to work on his offense.

Last season, Tucker batted .220 — which was 31 points higher than any other starting outfielder — with three doubles, one home run and eight RBIs in 37 games in the truncated season. But he had six times as many strikeouts (31) than he did walks (five).

In 14 games with Indianapolis, Tucker slashed .214/.302/.339, going 12 for 56 with three doubles, two triples and three RBIS with 14 strikeouts and seven walks. He was 3 for 5 with a double, triple and three RBIs in the second game of a doubleheader at St. Paul on Thursday night.

“He has shown us things,” Shelton said. “I think he’s played really well defensively. I think if you look at how well he’s played at short down there, it’s been really good. He’s starting to swing the bat better. And I give Cole a ton of credit. It’s not easy to go, ‘Hey, we’re going to go and work on some things in Bradenton during minor league spring training when we have an alt site going on.’ But the willingness to identify some things and work on them down there, I give him a ton of credit, and we’re starting to see signs of those things really blossom.”

Putting Tom on the IL leaves the Pirates with three natural outfielders on their major league roster, although utility players Wilmer Difo, Erik Gonzalez and Ildemaro Vargas all have the ability to play any of the there positions and second baseman Frazier also has played left field.

The Pirates had five outfielders before designating Troy Stokes Jr. for assignment after claiming Vargas off waivers from the Chicago Cubs. Stokes cleared waivers and was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.