In 2021, the Milwaukee Brewers drafted Tyler Black 33rd overall out of Wright State. He was taken in the competitive balance round as Sal Frelick was the team’s first round selection. Black was most known for his hit tool, in which scouts graded him at 60. After the 2022 minor league season, Black has his sights set on taping into his power next.
David Laurila shared Black’s goal for the future in a recent article titled “Brewers Prospect Tyler Black Wants To Mash, Not Broadcast”. The title is based on the fact that his father, Rod Black, was a broadcaster for the Blue Jays.
Black revealed these thoughts during an interview during the Arizona Fall League (AFL). He was playing in the AFL due to missing a good portion of the 2022 MiLB season after sustaining a scapula fracture. Unfortunately, his time in Arizona was cut short to 17 games as he sustained a thumb fracture.
“Power is one of the things I really want to focus on. I have a lot of contact with my game, and now I need to start tapping into my power and doing more damage. A lot of that is going to come from approach, from doing a better job of key-holing pitches and being aggressive when I get them.”
If Tyler Black can tap into his power, he may quickly work his way through the minor league levels.
At the plate, Black has great contact skills as well as plate discipline. He struck out just 15.5% of the time with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers last year while walking 15.9% of the time. Over 231 plate appearances, this equated to 45 walks to 44 strikeouts. In the AFL, he drew 10 free passes and struck out 18 times. He received just 76 plate appearances before his injury.
Power wise, Black has just five minor league home runs and he hit one in the AFL. His career slugging percentage is just a touch under .400. While he may never be a 20+ home run player, adding some gap power would go a long way as well.
Hopefully Black can get healthy and stay healthy in 2023 and beyond. The highly regarded hitting prospect has the potential to climb through the minor league system quickly if he can do both of those things.
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