Get Up To Speed On Tyler Black, The Newest Brewer And Top Prospect

Picked 33rd overall in the 2021 draft, Black primarily spent time at second base at Wright State University. After continuing this trend for his first two minor league seasons, he moved to third base in 2023 with a handful of games spent at first base. With 60-grade hit-and-run tools, he’s a speedy fella who swings a mean bat. In 2023, he slashed .284/.417/.513 and stole 55 bases across a combined 557 plate appearances in Double-A and Triple-A.

Regarding his approach, MLB.com had this to say:

Quote

Black employs a large leg kick as part of his swing, but he keeps himself nicely in rhythm, allowing his hand-eye coordination, bat speed, and discerning eye to keep him from chasing outside the zone or whiffing when he does take his hacks. His 8.1 percent swinging-strike rate was 13th-best among 125 batters with 500 plate appearances or more at the Minors’ top two levels. He’s willing to take his free passes (23/27 K/BB rate under the ABS system at Triple-A), pushing his OBP further up while his slugging percentage should play closer to average, with decent but not great impact.

He got off to a similarly hot start in 2024, spending the entirety of the season in Triple-A and slashing .303/.393/.525 with a double, three triples, and five home runs over his 117 plate appearances. He’s only stolen three bags, but the three triples should quell fears that his speed has left him.

So why was he called up now? While it’s hard to be sure, one can make a few assumptions. In his major-league debut, he was initially called in as a pinch-runner to replace an injured Gary Sánchez and remained in as the designated hitter, so we didn’t get a clue as to which corner of the infield he’d be tasked with. However, it seems like either position will work. The Brewers are 21st in MLB for both OPS from first base (.641) and OPS from third base (.657), so it could use Black’s hit tool in both places. 

Much of the third base performance has been dragged down by Oliver Dunn’s sluggish .538 OPS, but Joey Ortiz has been spectacular, posting a .791 OPS from the hot corner. First base, on the other hand, has been split between Rhys Hoskins and Jake Bauers. Both have been more or less as advertised, with Hoskins boasting a .787 OPS and Bauers limping along with a .633 OPS.

Realistically, Black will be a useful backup option (at least for now) for both corners of the infield. Milwaukee has demonstrated a remarkable amount of infield flexibility this season, and his utility fits right into the already fluid puzzle. The Brewers are off to a great start at 18-11, but with continued roadblocks for their starting pitchers, they'll need all of the offense they can get if they want to remain atop their division. The Cubs are breathing down their necks at 18-12, and the Reds aren't too far behind at 16-14. He won't be able to carry the lineup singlehandedly, but maybe he'll be a much-needed spark plug for his teammates at the plate.