WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — At this same spring training complex inside the same clubhouse around this very time last year, Kyle Tucker took the nickname to which he is linked for the foreseeable future.

Astros veterans recalled the day their franchise drafted this lanky high school outfielder from Florida with a lefthanded swing likened by analysts to that of Ted Williams. “Ted” was born that afternoon in West Palm Beach and thrived in Florida. He slugged five home runs and led all major leaguers with 21 runs batted in, setting the Grapefruit League ablaze.

Back where this phenomenon started, Ted talk is muted. Tucker now is nothing but another minor leaguer vying for attention among a growing glut of Astros outfielders.

“I think it’s been tough mentally for him coming into camp with the general idea that he probably won’t make our team,” said manager A.J. Hinch.

The offseason acquisition of Michael Brantley extinguished any thought Tucker would patrol left field every day for the major league club. The prospect’s performance during spring training has removed almost any hope — if it even existed — that he could crack the opening-day roster.

If that fate has set in or grated on Tucker’s psyche, the 22-year-old does not project it. On Monday, when he was presented the logic his manager mentioned, Tucker was unfazed.

“If you just keep playing your game, you can kind of force your way into a lineup,” said Tucker, who went 9-for-64 (.141) in the major leagues last season. “That’s where you can kind of control that part. You go out, do well, practice and then really get your work in to come out and show that you belong.”

In 25 Grapefruit League at-bats, Tucker has more strikeouts than hits. Just three of his seven hits garnered extra bases. None were home runs.

Two of those three extra-base hits arrived in the last three days — doubles he crushed on Sunday and Monday.

“The last couple games I’ve felt a lot better,” Tucker said. “At the beginning (of camp), my swing didn’t feel great. It felt a little lost. But my last couple games and at-bats, I’ve felt good. I’m seeing the ball a lot better, making a lot better contact, staying through the ball (and) driving it to center.”

Teams continue to shift dramatically against the lefthanded-hitting Tucker. Pitchers pound him on the inside part of the plate. Tucker has a propensity to pull those offerings feebly toward the right side — straight into that defensive alignment.

The problem can be remedied if Tucker does not pull off during his swing. Essentially, when he encounters an inside pitch, Tucker falls backward, and his bat head flails toward the right side.

Staying more upright will allow him to drive through the baseball, producing more hits to center field. The double he massacred during Sunday’s 6-4 loss to the Nationals was to dead center field, an encouraging sign.

“He’s a little jumpy, but he’s getting into some counts and making some good swings,” Hinch said after Monday’s game. “I’m liking the fact that he’s getting some good results at the end of his at-bats. I think he’s pressed a little bit and also been a little inconsistent at the plate. But when he swings at good pitches, he’s got great hand-eye (coordination) and can do damage.”

That potential has not dissipated. Tucker remains the best position player within Houston’s farm system, a man in whom general manager Jeff Luhnow continued to reaffirm his faith throughout the winter and spring.

Tucker vowed during the offseason he would better hone his pregame preparation and routine, to which Luhnow was very receptive. Tucker said Monday he has learned more specifics of how and when to stretch or work out before games that will aid his development.

“He’s kind of been quiet and putting in a lot of work doing things — he’s got some work he needs to do defensively, some work I think to clean up his swing,” Hinch said. “But he’s had a relatively quiet camp.”

Quiet is Tucker’s nature. He emotes very little, be it when he is the center of the organization’s attention or when he fades into the background.

“I treat it the same,” Tucker said. “I’m trying to come out and do my part, and hopefully, it’ll work out fine.”

chandler.rome@chron.com

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