April 30, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Tyler Black has been called up by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Matt Betts, of the Canadian Baseball Network, was the first to report this earlier today.

Black (Stouffville, Ont.) owns a .303/.393/.525 slash line with five home runs, three triples and 18 RBIs in 25 games for the triple-A Nashville Sounds this season. He spent spring training in the Brewers’ big league camp.

The 23-year-old infielder split 2023 between the double-A Biloxi Shuckers and the triple-A Sounds, batting a combined .284 with a .417 on-base percentage (OBP) in 123 games. The Toronto Mets and Butler Prospects alum had 25 doubles, 12 triples, 18 home runs, 73 RBIs, 105 runs and 55 stolen bases. His combined 12 triples were the most in the affiliated minor league ranks and he also topped Brewers’ minor leaguers in runs, stolen bases and extra-base hits (55).

For his efforts, Black, who split time between first and third base last season, was named a Southern League All-Star and the Milwaukee Brewers co-Minor League Player of the Year. He also won the Canadian Baseball Network’s 2023 Randy Echlin Award, as top Canuck hitter in the affiliated minor league ranks.

Selected 33rd overall by the Brewers in the 2021 MLB draft out of Wright State University, Black, who’s the son of legendary Canadian sports broadcaster Rod Black, is in his fourth season in the Brewers’ organization.

In 2022, his first full professional season, he batted .281 and posted a .406 OBP in 64 games with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Among his 65 hits were 13 doubles, four triples and four home runs. He also swiped 13 bases.

Black is set to become the second Canadian to make their big league debut in 2024. Right-hander Cade Smith (Abbotsford, B.C.) appeared in his first major league game for the Cleveland Guardians on March 30.

Black will become the 13th player born in Canada to suit up for a big league team this season.