One look at the Houston Astros lineup and, you can’t help but notice the big names at the top of the order. Those individuals also have the credentials to solidify their names with some of the best in Major League Baseball today:

Jose Altuve – 2017 American League MVP

Michael Brantley – 2021 AL Batting Title runner-up

Alex Bregman – 2019 AL MVP runner-up

Yordan Alvarez – 2019 Rookie of the Year

Yuli Gurriel – 2021 AL Batting Champion

I think you get the picture by now.

Houston has some firepower at the top of their batting lineup. Yet, outfielder Kyle Tucker, who bats in the seventh spot, has been giving pitchers nightmares since his return from being placed in MLB’s health and safety protocol back in June.

Tucker, who was selected by the Astros in the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft, was as steady as they come in the final three months of the season.

He finished with batting averages of .291(July), .333 (August), and in September, he repeated the .333 batting average but added a 1.087 OPS to the mix. His hard work and dedication were finally recognized by MLB when he was awarded American League Player of the Month for September.

The player nicknamed “Ted” by his teammates in the minor league after the late great Boston Red Sox hitter Ted Williams has risen to the occasion again in the 2021 American League Division Series. His Game 2 home run in the bottom of the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox helped seal the victory for the Astros and give them a 2-0 series advantage.

“I think Kyle was the best hitter in our lineup this year,” said Carlos Correa in his ALDS postgame press conference. “And he’s one of the best hitters in the game. The reason why I say that is because obviously, the numbers will back me up. But also, I don’t see him getting fooled too often. It doesn’t matter if you throw a first-pitch-breaking ball or first-pitch fastball. It seems like (Kyle’s) always on time. That’s something special. You don’t see many hitters that are able to adjust like that.

“He’s a natural hitter. Natural hitters are always the best hitters in the game. The future is bright for this kid right here.”

Tucker and his teammates will be back in action on Sunday night as they travel to Chicago to take on the White Sox in Game 3 of the ALDS.