What to do with Tyler Black

[Playing Catch]

I find his minor-league story-to-date to be a frustrating one. Even just a 40-glove at 3rd, 2nd, and an OF corner could make him Zobrist-like.

Does he have a viable path to a roster spot in 2025? Is he going to replace Bauers? If so, would you be excited to see what he can do?

Do you believe that he can be a serviceable lefty bench stick? For a contender?

What is his trade value/prospect value?

 

As for my own thoughts, I think he has a weird skillset that has a hard time making it in the big leagues, but that he deserves a shot. Like Hiura before him, he needs to go to a bad team to let him work on his game at the big-league level. On one hand, I'd be tempted to rep him to death at 2nd/3rd to try and improve his defense, on the other hand, I'd be tempted to just stick him in left field full time, and see if he can carve out a career as a 5th OFer, pinch hitter/runner. But I don't think his bat will ever be good enough to be a strong-side platoon player at first base/DH.

[liveforoctober]

I think we need to give the kid more than 50 at bats in the bigs before panicking about his offensive skillset. His career OBP in the minors is over .400 ... and even with his struggles in his short stint last year his OBP was 100 pts higher than his avg.

Lot of offseason left but as of now he is the backup at 1B and will be rostered. Lot can change though. I'm low key excited for him this year.

[Fear The Chorizo]

I think if you just plug him in at DH on this roster he'd do just fine at the MLB level once he gets settled in.  He is yet another player with a quality OBP tool that can wreak havoc on the bases.

Chourio was terrible over his 1st 175 plate appearances last season, too.

My concern with a player like Black is because he isn't considered a plus defender at any specific position, he's not going to get enough of an opportunity for consistent at bats with the Brewers based on how they view the DH position.  I'd be find if they don't trade Hoskins and instead make him their primary DH and prioritize a 1B upgrade, too.

[wallus]

He's a future outfielder, likely on a different team 

[Brian]

34 minutes ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

Chourio was terrible over his 1st 175 plate appearances last season, too.

Except Chourio and hit 50 points higher in the minors (MiLB), also is/was 4 1/2 years younger than Black when posting them. Black did not have great numbers at AAA. 

[brewmann04]

Maybe move him with Hoskins 

[Brian]

24 minutes ago, brewmann04 said:

Maybe move him with Hoskins 

Tyler Black is broken. .204/.316/.245 without a HR in his last 30 games, no established defensive home, not a consideration for postseason play, limited trade value this offseason. 

We do have someone in the pipeline at 1st soon I believe also 6'6".  Maybe a year away if he keeps up the good work. 

https://www.milb.com/player/ernesto-martinez-jr-667803

 

[liveforoctober]

9 minutes ago, Brian said:

Tyler Black is broken. .204/.316/.245 without a HR in his last 30 games, no established defensive home, not a consideration for postseason play, limited trade value this offseason. 

We do have someone in the pipeline at 1st soon I believe also 6'6".  Maybe a year away if he keeps up the good work. 

https://www.milb.com/player/ernesto-martinez-jr-667803

 

We are done with him after 50 at bats?

[sveumrules]

11 minutes ago, Brian said:

without a HR in his last 30 games

Black only played 18 games at the MLB level.

He homered in each of his last two games in AAA on September 21st/22nd to close the season.

[sveumrules]

2 hours ago, liveforoctober said:

I think we need to give the kid more than 50 at bats in the bigs before panicking about his offensive skillset. His career OBP in the minors is over .400 ... and even with his struggles in his short stint last year his OBP was 100 pts higher than his avg.

Lot of offseason left but as of now he is the backup at 1B and will be rostered. Lot can change though. I'm low key excited for him this year.

Yeah, just plug him into the Bauers role and give him 350-400 PAs against MLB pitching.

I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up with a batting line something like Joey Ortiz last year - 240/330/400 or so. That was good for a 104 wRC+ last year.

With his overly patient approach I think leaving him in AAA any longer would be a detriment.

If he struggles either of Mike Boeve or Ernesto Martinez Jr. should be just a plane ride away.

[Brian]

9 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

Black only played 18 games at the MLB level.

He homered in each of his last two games in AAA on September 21st/22nd to close the season.

I was looking at this, https://www.mlb.com/player/tyler-black-672012

[sveumrules]

2 minutes ago, Brian said:

I was looking at this, https://www.mlb.com/player/tyler-black-672012

If you scroll down past the Last 30 Games split it lists only 18 career games.

[Brian]

1 minute ago, sveumrules said:

If you scroll down past the Last 30 Games split it lists only 18 career games.

Yes, you are right,  I'm all for giving him a shot again in spring training but sure would spend all season seeing if he's got for the bigs because my gut just tells me no he does not.  But I do have faith in Pat Murphy much mor so than I ever did in Counsell. Especially younger talent. 

[TURBO]

I think EMJ is going to make his debut this season at some point.  Love this guy!

[Devinep]

1 hour ago, sveumrules said:

Yeah, just plug him into the Bauers role and give him 350-400 PAs against MLB pitching.

I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up with a batting line something like Joey Ortiz last year - 240/330/400 or so. That was good for a 104 wRC+ last year.

With his overly patient approach I think leaving him in AAA any longer would be a detriment.

If he struggles either of Mike Boeve or Ernesto Martinez Jr. should be just a plane ride away.

I think that is the best way as now with the current roster. Yeli and Hoskins should be the man DH’s. When Hoskins is DH, black can play 1B. When Yeli is DH, there are OF ABs available. And some more will be in the likely event of a Yelich and/or Mitchell IL trip 

[umphrey]

I hate to say it but I’ve long suspected Tyler Black is another Hiura or Wiemer (without the CF defense). I hope he gets a shot so we can find out. 

[TURBO]

3 hours ago, Devinep said:

I think that is the best way as now with the current roster. Yeli and Hoskins should be the man DH’s. When Hoskins is DH, black can play 1B. When Yeli is DH, there are OF ABs available. And some more will be in the likely event of a Yelich and/or Mitchell IL trip 

There has to be at bats for Contreras when he is at DH too.

It will work itself out, always does.

[igor67]

I didn't keep a running total, but my impression in his first couple of games was that he got a rookie strikezone and I think it was part of the difficulty given how important his ability to wait out ABs is to his game.

[Scooterfletcher]

Give him regular at bats.   400 minimum this year.   Decide what he is after that.   The brain trust can pick what positions they can use him at .

[MNBrew]

WAY too soon to give up on him.  He's never gotten a real substantial test run in the bigs.  Not every prospect looks like a major league on their first few callups.  He was a high draft pick who's generally done well in the minors.  He could prove to be a real asset given time.

For lots of reasons it's hardly an apples-to-apples comparison, but Jace Peterson had much more of a track record (though hardly stellar) when he first came to & came up with the Brewers.  Big fat nothingburger.  But they saw something and stuck with him long enough to start to produce.

[long ball]

I am intrigued by Black’s bat. 
 

I think the ship has sailed on him getting any meaningful playing time at 3rd or 2nd. 
 

I agree with many previous posters that Black can/should slot into that Bauers role from last year. First base, DH, some spots in a corner outfield.
 

we go through this almost every season where there isn’t a clear space for a player. It almost always works out. A guy doesn’t perform or he gets injured. Or they make a trade. There will be plate appearances for Black and he will have a big impact on how many he gets. 

[ClosetBrewerFan]

I think it depends on what the opening day lineup will look like.  If it were to stand as it is now, I think Black will get lots of opportunities.  Whether that be 1b/DH/OF, and yes 3b.  I know he has not looked good there, but he should be working on 3b this offseason and spring training. He has a golden opportunity with that position wide open for the taking.  He has too much talent to count him out at this point.

[Playing Catch]

Anyone else have an issue with his exaggerated leg kick? Just seems like a timing nightmare.

[Brian]

This is who I'm waiting for.

https://www.milb.com/player/ernesto-martinez-jr-667803

 

[Lathund]

What to do with Tyler Black is simply to let him play. Seems like they don't believe in him as a 3B, though that'd be ideal if he could handle it. So Black should get most of the PAs at 1B vs RHP, with Hoskins playing mostly against LHP, with his quite severe platoon splits. 

Between 1B, DH, some corner OF there should be a decent amount of PAs.