MLB WORLD SERIES: ASTROS VS BRAVES

October 25, 2021

Kyle Tucker

Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. You were on the roster in '19, but you weren't playing every day. Does it feel different coming into the World Series knowing that you're going to be playing every single night?

KYLE TUCKER: The World Series is fun regardless, whether you're in the stands, on a bench coming in, or starting. We're going to have a lot of fun with it. We've been here before, so we know what to expect and what we've got to do. We've got to come out, play like we have been, and try to win it.

Q. Talk about knowing what to expect, from being around the World Series before. What have you learned about being in the World Series that surprised you and learning what you need to do and not do?

KYLE TUCKER: I've never really been to a playoff game before, really as a fan or a player. It's similar to the DS and Championship Series, but it's all -- it's the World Series. The fans are still going to be really loud. It's going to be a lot of fun. So our goal is just to stay focused on baseball and not what the crowd or --

Q. Is it just keeping the emotions in check or focused?

KYLE TUCKER: Mainly just focus. I mean, it's the World Series. There's only two teams playing in it. We're going to treat it like we have been the last couple of series. Our focus is baseball. Try to get every out we can and put runs on the board. We're just going to try to stay focused with that.

Q. As you were coming through the Astros system, did you get the feeling this was going to be a team that could sustain that success for a long time? How important are those four infielders as kind of a stability for this team?

KYLE TUCKER: Pretty much every level I've been at, we've either made the playoffs or been like right there. And I played with a lot of these guys that are on the team right now in the Big Leagues.

Coming up, we'd win a lot of games. Our team was always very talented, which you guys can see now. Everyone that gets called up has done really well, and they help the team win.

Back to our infield, it's one of the best infields ever. Yuli picks the ball all over the place, really helps the guys. Statistically, you guys can look it up. They're the best defense in the league. They help out our pitchers a lot with a lot of the ground balls that come our way and makes it easier on everyone. They're doing a phenomenal job, and they work really hard at it.

Q. Looks like you're eagerly anticipating my question. Your opposite field power, how has that kind of developed, and what approach allows you to do that, to drive the ball out like that?

KYLE TUCKER: Personally, I don't think I crush balls the other way. I just kind of get it perfectly, I guess. Like my homer the other day was like 101, 102. Those are well-hit balls. They're not like crushed. They're like 115. I just try and stay inside the ball and hit the barrel off the ball. That pitch was right down the middle for the most part, but I was a little late, and I just hit it on the barrel, and it went over there.

I'm glad that the fence is a little shorter here. It helps me out a little bit. I just try and hit the ball where it's pitched and try not to do too much with it and barrel it and wherever it goes, it goes.

Q. Kyle, I know your brother was with the Braves organization. Just through his experience, what did you know about them? As this team right here, how much more respect do you guys have for them when they've lost Acuna, no Ozuna, and not having Soroka all year?

KYLE TUCKER: They're a good team regardless. The guys have filled in some of the spots, have been around the League for a while, and they're really good players. My brother loved it over there. They have a good time. Good relationship with a lot of those guys over there.

We're playing against a really good Braves team. Whether or not they have like some guys that are hurt or whatever, guys that have been playing have stepped up, and they've done a really good job at it.

They're not in the World Series because they're bad or anything. They're a really good team, and we've got to go out there and outperform them.

Q. Kyle, with no DH in Atlanta, figuring you all might want to keep Yordan's bat in the lineup. Are you anticipating playing center field there? Are there any big differences for you there in between center and right?

KYLE TUCKER: I can play center. But if put in left, I can play left. Whatever the lineup or situation happens throughout the game happens. But I'm just trying to go out there and play defense as well as possible, whether it's left, center, right, or the infield at third.