Brewers See Tyler Black As A Versatile Fit For 2024
While it might not yet be clear where Tyler Black plays for the Brewers this season, the 23-year-old is expected to impact the major league team for the first time.
“I see him fitting,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “Where? I don’t know. But I see him fitting. I like the player.”
The Brewers liked Black enough to have drafted him 33rd overall out of Wright State in 2021.
He battled the injury bug in 2022 but broke through in 2023 by batting .284/.417/.513 with 18 home runs and 55 stolen bases in 123 games. He spent the first four months with Double-A Biloxi and the last two with Triple-A Nashville.
Black focused on playing third base in 2023 but has experience at second base and center field. He added first base last season.
This offseason, the Brewers signed first baseman Rhys Hoskins and traded for versatile infielder Joey Ortiz to complement a middle infield of Willy Adames and Brice Turang. That could mean a return to Triple-A for Black.
While Black’s arm isn’t considered ideal for third base, he’s athletic and agile enough to compete there. And his lefthanded bat, on-base skills and speed should at the very least keep him in the conversation as a multi-position regular.
“I think he can do a lot of things,” Brewers GM Matt Arnold said. “His ability to play third, first and even outfield if needed. He’s so athletic. He’s just really talented. He’s got a lot of upside.
“We’re really excited about him, wherever he ends up.”
MICROBREWS
— The Brewers’ international signing class numbered 35 players. Tops in the group was 16-year-old Venezuelan shortstop Jorge Quintana, whose natural switch-hitting ability stands out.
“You compare swings from both sides of the plate,” Brewers international scouting director James Armstrong said. “There are not that many switch-hitters, and with the ones who are, there are plenty of them where one swing dominates the other. This is a rare find. That trait in particular is what first drew our attention to Jorge. Couple that with the skills that he’s perfected with repetition and we’re getting a special prospect.”
— The Brewers announced two minor league managerial changes in January
Most notable was Joe Ayrault moving from High-A Wisconsin to Double-A Biloxi, where he will replace Mike Guerrero. Guerrero, in turn, was named the organization’s roving infield instructor, replacing the retired Bob Miscik.
Also, Victor Estevez was bumped up from Low-A Carolina to Wisconsin. Estevez, who had managed the Mudcats the previous two seasons, is in his 12th year in the Milwaukee organization and is considered a rising star by the Brewers. Estevez’s replacement at Carolina is Nick Stanley.
