Should Tyler Black Be Milwaukee’s Left Fielder Of The Present And Future?

[Harold Hutchison]

Tyler Black has been spending a lot of time in Nashville, despite a bat that seems MLB-ready. Could the Brewers keep him in Milwaukee by making one more positional move?

Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Black has been a man without a position he can call home. Originally drafted as a second baseman and playing there in 2021, he split time between second base and center field in an injury-plagued 2022 season, before moving to the hot corner in a breakout 2023. He slid over to first base in late 2023 and has primarily played there in 2024. Black still hasn’t stuck in Milwaukee, only notching 22 at-bats in a brief cup of coffee. But could the Brewers solve multiple problems by putting him in left field?

Why left field? Partially, it’s where teams have historically hidden defensive liabilities who still need to be in the lineup due to their bats, and Black seems to be developing that reputation. It worked for the Brewers once before, when they moved Ryan Braun to that position in 2008 despite him winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award at third base in 2007. Khris Davis also handled left field for the Brewers before they traded him to Oakland (a deal they probably wanted back, given his performance in the 2016-2018 timeframe).

As of the morning of May 28, Black has posted an .862 OPS at Nashville, with 10 of his 12 extra-base hits being triples or homers. He’s also added seven stolen bases, while drawing 20 walks in 143 at-bats. This isn’t much slippage from his 2023 numbers with the Sounds, nor his breakout numbers at Double-A Biloxi.

Left field is also where Black’s bat could help the Brewers offense the most, with players like Sal Frelick, Jackson Chourio, and Blake Perkins each posting an OPS of .662 or lower entering Monday's game. If Black were to man left field, it could allow the Brewers to give Chourio time to make adjustments in Nashville.

Putting Black in left field most of the time could be a huge boon for Christian Yelich, by freeing him up to play some first base and spend a bunch of time at designated hitter. Yelich’s back issues have already cost him time this season, and probably contributed to struggles from 2021-2022. Earlier this year, Yelich offered the hope that he was back to the MVP form he displayed in 2018-2019. More time at DH could probably help him maintain that form.

In addition, Black does offer some positional versatility. During his time in the minors, he was at least able to hold his own at second base, third base, first base, and center field. The universal DH leaves Milwaukee with four bench players – one of whom is the second catcher.

While Black’s initial cup of coffee saw him post a .579 OPS, there is much to suggest that he can make the adjustments to handle MLB pitching with enough at-bats. Those at-bats can't be accumulated anywhere but the big leagues, at this stage of his development. It is, in essence, the same situation Chourio is facing, needing big-league reps to adjust to the strike zone (no computer-called strike zone in MLB) and to get used to the speed of the MLB game.

The fact of the matter is that the Brewers need Black’s bat at the MLB level, particularly given the struggles of Oliver Dunn and Frelick (although the latter, at least, delivers some OBP skills and solid defense) at the plate. For the short-term and medium-term future, the best move for the Brewers – and for Tyler Black – may be to have him in left field.

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[sveumrules]

Yelich isn’t moving to full time DH (or 1B) so no.

[Brian]

As of now I sure wouldn't and for the future he has to start hitting better because a .225 avg just won't cut it as a starting outfielder in the MLB with below avg power by the way.  But he is still young only 23. 

[Team Canada]

1 hour ago, clancyphile said:

despite him winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award at third base in 2007

That's not quite the right framing. He won the ROY for his bat, despite being a butcher at 3B.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Despite LF being a relatively less challenging spot, they aren't going to give him a lions' share at 1B in Nashville, then move him to Milwaukee & stick him in the OF. If this was in the cards he'd have been auditioning there by now.

 

[CheezWizHed]

So you are inferring that his defense at 1B and/or the players at 1B at the MLB level are what is blocking him from making the MLB? 

I think he has better opportunities at 1B than displacing Yelich and all the other young OFers at LF.  The pipeline at 1B is pretty empty so unless he fails at 1B defense, this really makes no sense.  Compound that with zero OF minutes since 2022 (and very limited even then) and I'd say it is pretty safe to say this isn't in the Brewers' plans. 

 

[Kripes - Brewers]

I have to agree with the other commenters. When Hoskins likely opts out, Black gets the nod. He doesn't have the power you want at 1B yet, but he's the best option we have internally.

[Bashopolis]

Blacks position on the team right now is minor league player so he won’t get 4 years of arbitration.  Once he reaches super 2 cut off then the Brewers can bring him up.  

[tmwiese55]

I'd also say RF would be more logical due to Yeli in LF.    Yes some poor D OFs have played LF but much of that has been due to arm strength (like Yelich).  In theory LF is more important than RF D since there is more RH batters.  I'd also assume since he played so much 3B Black's arm doesn't suck, or at least is better than Yeli.

But as other's said, if he hasn't been getting any games in OF its clearly not in the cards for him this year.  Since he's played so much 3B that's probably the other position he could help if they started having him work at again.  If one of the 3 main IFs gets hurt there's a big big need.  Next year Adames is gone and there is only Ortiz to handle one of the other spots.  And as of now Hoskins might be back. 

[wiguy94]

7 minutes ago, tmwiese55 said:

I'd also say RF would be more logical due to Yeli in LF.    Yes some poor D OFs have played LF but much of that has been due to arm strength (like Yelich).  In theory LF is more important than RF D since there is more RH batters.  I'd also assume since he played so much 3B Black's arm doesn't suck, or at least is better than Yeli.

But as other's said, if he hasn't been getting any games in OF its clearly not in the cards for him this year.  Since he's played so much 3B that's probably the other position he could help if they started having him work at again.  If one of the 3 main IFs gets hurt there's a big big need.  Next year Adames is gone and there is only Ortiz to handle one of the other spots.  And as of now Hoskins might be back. 

Black does not have a good arm.

[jesusoftheapes]

6 hours ago, sveumrules said:

Yelich isn’t moving to full time DH (or 1B) so no.

Why not? He is a battered body who could thrive as a fulltime DH .  he does not have to be a fulltime DH to bring Black up and leave him here.  YES SO VERY MUCH YES .  Tyler Black in AAA does this team no good and he is almost as good of a bat as William C .     We are holding one of baseballs best bats in AAA while Owen Miller and Monasterio mull around in the Bigs doing 0 .    YES Bring BLACK up now and leave him up here.   He is not going to learn how to be a good pro in AAA .  He has to learn how to hit again without a challenge system to correct bad pitches.   That is the big thing batters need to relearn after coming out of system that works vs a system that doesn't.   Why would Yelich need to be a permanent DH to accommodate Black?  As far as I know Black is still playing 1st base and that versatility of being in and out is worth more than Owen Miller.    Tyler Black is a really good player who could bat .300 with a bit of work.      We are talking about this as outfield but there is very little hope for him out there this season without injury.   Garett Mitchell is coming back this year and he is a dynamo outfielder.    Tyler Black will not be an outfielder in 2024 God willing.   But he has a place up in the Bigs in 2024 just with his bat.   If we can leave Owen Miller lurking around the clubhouse like a overgrown Chipmunk in pants Tyler Black should be here too.     

[jesusoftheapes]

3 hours ago, tmwiese55 said:

I'd also say RF would be more logical due to Yeli in LF.    Yes some poor D OFs have played LF but much of that has been due to arm strength (like Yelich).  In theory LF is more important than RF D since there is more RH batters.  I'd also assume since he played so much 3B Black's arm doesn't suck, or at least is better than Yeli.

But as other's said, if he hasn't been getting any games in OF its clearly not in the cards for him this year.  Since he's played so much 3B that's probably the other position he could help if they started having him work at again.  If one of the 3 main IFs gets hurt there's a big big need.  Next year Adames is gone and there is only Ortiz to handle one of the other spots.  And as of now Hoskins might be back. 

The trouble with Tyler is he is a bad defensive player by comparison to even our most subpar clingers . However his bat is as good as the top 4 bats on the Brewers currently.     So finding him a spot outside of bats is really complicated.   He is not terrible but there are better defenders on the roster .   I do not know if we can find a spot for him in 2024.  He has a bat worth having though so it makes it very hard to ignore him again.   Garrett Mitchell coming back also complicates things.  I also think we will know more about it after the trade deadline.  i am not giving up on Adames yet.  He is not gone until he is gone and he really wants to stay put.  So anything can happen.  

[jesusoftheapes]

3 hours ago, Bashopolis said:

Blacks position on the team right now is minor league player so he won’t get 4 years of arbitration.  Once he reaches super 2 cut off then the Brewers can bring him up.  

 You do not leave bats this good in purgatory because of arbitration.  The Brewers are a team good enough to win real things.  They need every bat they can get to compete with the Dodgers, Royals, and Phillies  of the world.   I do not have a good feel for how to inject Black into 2024 but I know he is much more helpful as a Brewer than he is a Sounds.  

 

 

 

[jesusoftheapes]

5 hours ago, Kripes - Brewers said:

I have to agree with the other commenters. When Hoskins likely opts out, Black gets the nod. He doesn't have the power you want at 1B yet, but he's the best option we have internally.

I do not agree with this .  WE get power from weirdo places like Shortstop unlike most teams.  We can handle Black hitting .330 and not having extreme power from 1st base.   Bauers and Black are very similar in power .   Black is a better hitter than Bauers.  Black gives the Brewers a faster baserunner than anyone on the current roster which is insane.  He and  De La Cruz are the two best base runners in the entire sport in the world.   His 55 stolen bases and 55 doubles hits last year is proof enough for me plus I think he scored 12 triples in 2023.  Plus I do not believe Hoskins opts out.  He is not in that position and this injury proved that he will have to get through both years here to be trusted with a large $ plus he seems to like it here.  Why do all Brewers fans only believe the only moves are the most hurtful and will always happen?  Let it play out before you make plans off that . 

[jesusoftheapes]

6 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

So you are inferring that his defense at 1B and/or the players at 1B at the MLB level are what is blocking him from making the MLB? 

I think he has better opportunities at 1B than displacing Yelich and all the other young OFers at LF.  The pipeline at 1B is pretty empty so unless he fails at 1B defense, this really makes no sense.  Compound that with zero OF minutes since 2022 (and very limited even then) and I'd say it is pretty safe to say this isn't in the Brewers' plans. 

 

Smart 

[jesusoftheapes]

7 hours ago, Brian said:

As of now I sure wouldn't and for the future he has to start hitting better because a .225 avg just won't cut it as a starting outfielder in the MLB with below avg power by the way.  But he is still young only 23. 

power.  The most completely over spoken of feature of any players game.  Black has power.  But that is not who he will ever be.  He is not developing power.  He is the fastest man on the field.  He is another Turang or even Chourio .   He has plenty of home run ability .   His Del a Cruz speed is what makes him something special .   He clocks faster than Del a Cruz on a clock timer.  So no matter what power he has he can drive ball opposite field all day.   His .227 batting in just 22 MLB at bats is not who Black is as a hitter and he has plenty of big ball ability right now. More than most MLB starters .   

 

Not to mention he is currently batting .280 with 40 hits  .862 ops .   6 homers.  7 stolen bags . His career batting is almost the exact  same as that over 911 at bats.    So this idea he is a .224 hitter is a myth and had he been left up here his MLB average would have caught up to his ability in a short time.  He is a .280's hitter at his base and can take that WAY  WAY up with time.   Tyler Black has the 3rd faster ball hit speed of the Brewers season with his 2nd hit dinger on his call up night.   So I won't listen to people who still say Tyler Black does not have enough power to play in the Bigs because it simply is not even close to true. 

[jay87shot]

Maybe next year we could make him like part time left, half time 1st, and part time DH. I think alot will depend on if Mitchell can stay healthy and play well, Rhys as well for option purposes.

Right now he is looking like a leading candidate in a trade to get a controllable young starter at the deadline.

[Harold Hutchison]

11 hours ago, jay87shot said:

Maybe next year we could make him like part time left, half time 1st, and part time DH. I think alot will depend on if Mitchell can stay healthy and play well, Rhys as well for option purposes.

Right now he is looking like a leading candidate in a trade to get a controllable young starter at the deadline.

That would be very rough for the Brewers down the road. Black's got a special bat. Would rather deal Wilken.

[yfinn6]

1 hour ago, clancyphile said:

That would be very rough for the Brewers down the road. Black's got a special bat. Would rather deal Wilken.

Insanity. 

[Kripes - Brewers]

15 hours ago, jesusoftheapes said:

I do not agree with this .  WE get power from weirdo places like Shortstop unlike most teams.  We can handle Black hitting .330 and not having extreme power from 1st base.   Bauers and Black are very similar in power .   Black is a better hitter than Bauers.  Black gives the Brewers a faster baserunner than anyone on the current roster which is insane.  He and  De La Cruz are the two best base runners in the entire sport in the world.   His 55 stolen bases and 55 doubles hits last year is proof enough for me plus I think he scored 12 triples in 2023.  Plus I do not believe Hoskins opts out.  He is not in that position and this injury proved that he will have to get through both years here to be trusted with a large $ plus he seems to like it here.  Why do all Brewers fans only believe the only moves are the most hurtful and will always happen?  Let it play out before you make plans off that . 

Jesus, part of being a fan of the Crew is understanding the reality of the small market business side of baseball, as well as understanding how this team typically operates. I'm not arguing that power is more important than OBP - I personally would rather see an emphasis on OBP and see the damage this team can do that way. The Brewers traded for Bauers, so they are going to give him some time there, whether we like it or not. This organization traditionally puts (or looks to put) an emphasis on D up the middle and power at the corners. Black will get another opportunity, but not until guys with a little more experience play themselves off the field.

[jay87shot]

4 hours ago, clancyphile said:

That would be very rough for the Brewers down the road. Black's got a special bat. Would rather deal Wilken.

In a perfect world we wouldn't trade anyone but Black is going to have to play a position. With Yeli long term 1st might be the only option left.

I don't want to trade Black at all but if left ends up being his only option we might be forced to deal him. 

I still have this perfect lineup in my head to start the year of Black, Ortiz, Turang, Wilken, Yeli, Chourio, Mitchell/Weimer, and Contreras for the future.

[jesusoftheapes]

6 hours ago, Kripes - Brewers said:

Jesus, part of being a fan of the Crew is understanding the reality of the small market business side of baseball, as well as understanding how this team typically operates. I'm not arguing that power is more important than OBP - I personally would rather see an emphasis on OBP and see the damage this team can do that way. The Brewers traded for Bauers, so they are going to give him some time there, whether we like it or not. This organization traditionally puts (or looks to put) an emphasis on D up the middle and power at the corners. Black will get another opportunity, but not until guys with a little more experience play themselves off the field.

Call me Apes . I am no divinity.    I like Bauers and think picking up his cash option is not definitive reasons to leave him in AAA especially with Hoskins on the mend this whole time.  I do not mind Bauers at all .  What i do mind is the other 1st baseman who has no business being in the Majors. Owen Chipmunk Miller is a bad baseball player.  Tyler Black has 1000 at bats in AAA .  So how many more do you want him to have before he is considered ready?   There is no world were Oliver Dunn or Owen Miller belong on this roster with Tyler Black batting for the Sounds.    joey Weimer was up here all season basically and what a huge waste that guy is .  In no world does Tyler Black rank under those guys . his bat is as live as any on this roster right now and the man has 1000 at bats in the minors already .  Keeping him there any longer means he will never be good enough in the Brewers minds and they see him not as a future star but as another piece to trade off or Monasterio him through his career forever.  Tyler Black deserves to play.  They are doing him no favors now at 1000 at bats playing in system with challenges to balls and strikes .  he has only a few offensive things to learn and those things only come at the highest level .   Figuring out a completely different strike zone is really the only thing Tyler has left to master on that side of the ball .   I have no reason to move him back to outfield like this article says but him as a 3rd and 1st as the guy who can play either with Owen Miller optioned someplace and Dunn working on his stuff down in AAA.    Why is Dunn up here and Tyler Black not?  It makes 0 sense. 

[sveumrules]

7 minutes ago, jesusoftheapes said:

Tyler Black has 1000 at bats in AAA .

Tyler Black has 348 plate appearances in AAA.

For his minor league career he has 1,130 PAs across all levels.

[sveumrules]

9 minutes ago, jesusoftheapes said:

Why is Dunn up here and Tyler Black not?  It makes 0 sense. 

Because the organization views Dunn as a competent MLB third baseman.

Black has played exclusively 1B/DH this year aside from one game at 3B in Nashville.

It also allows Black to play everyday at AAA with only sporadic playing time available at the MLB level currently.

[Secret Stadium Sauce]

He can’t play LF for the Brewers after he’s been traded at the deadline for SP