Smurf's Canadian Prospect Follows...
...Tyler Black to finish out the Canuck position players
Today we wrap up the hitters/position players on the Canadian Prospect Follow List. This player is a name that I’ve followed for a couple of seasons now and am keen to see how 2023 works out for our next Hoser. Grab a bevy of your choosing, pull up a chair and let’s get straight to it…..
Tyler Black
DOB 07/26/2000, Toronto, ON
6ft 2in, 190 lbs, L/R
Drafted in 2021 by Milwaukee, 33rd overall pick out of Wright State
2022 Organizational All-Star at 2B
Fun Fact: former TSN personality Rod Black is Tyler’s father
Last season was a bit of a mixed bag for Tyler. He won an organizational all-star, is one of the Brewers Top 10 prospects but had his season end twice due to injury. Regular season ended with a fractured left scapula and his Arizona Fall League finished with a fractured left thumb. A healthy 2023 would be the top of the list goal for the upcoming year.
When healthy, Black has some of the best, if not the best, plate discipline and bat to ball skills in the entire organization. Playing in High-A through 2022 with 283 Plate Appearances (231 AB), Tyler had 45 walks with 44 strikeouts. Yes. That’s right. More walks than strikeouts. He boasts excellent K% & BB%, 15.5 and 15.9 respectively, with SwStr% and wOBA being well above average as well.
Tyler gets on base. His career MILB OBP is .412. It’s safe to say he gets on base and he does it a lot. Once on base, Black is not a threat to steal. He swiped 6 bags last year but was caught 4 times. Not a good ratio on that front. He does carry average speed on an athletic frame. Prior to attending Wright State where he focused on baseball exclusively, Black was a three-sport athlete so he definitely carries some athleticism around the diamond.
The bat carries the profile with it being hit > power at this point and likely will remain for the duration of his career. Evaluators have put 40 & 45 grades on the game power and isn’t expected to be a big part of his game in the future. The swing gets to the ball fast with a flat/flatter swing path with the ability to hit to all fields (36.5% pull, 28.0% centre, 35.5 oppo).
Tyler’s long term defensive home is a bit of a question mark at this time. He spends most of his time at second base as he doesn’t have an arm for SS or third. He got time in CF, about 1/3 of the games he played in, which adds some defensive versatility to his skill set.
I’m hoping for a full, healthy season for Tyler. A full season of at bats for him could lead to something special and fun to watch.
We’ll leave it here for now. The first of Smurf’s Canadian Prospect Pitchers will be coming soon.
Thanks for checking today. I’ll be talking with you in a while. Until then, you know what to do…..Keep It 80 Grade.
2023 Season Follows:
Tyler Black 🍁, 2B, Milwaukee
Damiano Palmegiani🍁 , 1B/3B, Toronto
Denzel Clarke 🍁, CF, Oakland
Tsung-Che Cheng, SS, Pittsburgh
Kenedy Corona, RF, Houston
Will Dion, LHP, Cleveland
Juan Mercedes, RHP, Seattle