Even before the 2018 season began, there was a tacit understanding that the eventual Atlanta outfield would consist of Ronald Acuña Jr., Ender Inciarte, and Nick Markakis. Any other moves for outfielders were just for literal seat-fillers at the red carpet ceremony that would be Acuña’s debut season. Preston Tucker, acquired from the Astros in December 2017 for a player to be named later, seemed exactly like one of those seat fillers: an average-ish bat with generic-to-poor corner outfield defense does not a starter make.
But, a weird thing happened in early April.