Mount Paran's Tucker to pitch for Georgia Tech

Mount Paran Christian pitcher Jake Tucker committed to continue his baseball career at Georgia Tech in 2024.

“When I went there, they showed me around the coaching staff, and they were really good to me,” Tucker said. “There are a lot of positives from an education standpoint, close to home, things along those lines. My teammates put in a bit more, too, because hearing good things from them, and it being backed up by my experience with the coaches there just made it a place I wanted to be.”

Tucker previously held offers from West Virginia, South Florida, Kennesaw State, Georgia State and UAB.

As a junior last season, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound ace went undefeated in the 10 games he pitched. In 65 innings, he threw 88 strikeouts, walked six and had a 0.75 ERA. His ability to win is something that Tucker believes caught the attention of Georgia Tech coaches.

“They wanted to bring in someone who could win games,” Tucker said. “I guess they saw that what I can do on the field is going to help them win games in the future. My size makes me like a very good projectable piece, and being left‑handed is a God-given gift that I got blessed with that helps in the world of baseball.”

Also a success at the plate, Tucker hit .389 with six home runs and 30 RBIs as he helped lead Mount Paran to the Class A Private state semifinals.

“Jake’s a guy, I don’t think has reached his full potential yet,” Mount Paran coach Kyle Reese said. “As a baseball player, he’s a guy that, down the road, you could see getting a chance to play professional baseball. He said his decision was based off, obviously, a really good baseball program, but probably one of the best universities in the United States.”

Tucker said that his career at Mount Paran has helped him gain confidence in his academic ability and develop good habits. He also credits his coaches on their positivity and shaping him and his teammates into being good people.

Last season under coach Danny Hall, Georgia Tech finished 36-24 and reached the NCAA regional in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Yellow Jackets had eight players selected in the major league draft, their most since 2010.