The left side of the Milwaukee Brewers ' infield has struggled to produce so far this season, which could lead many to wonder what's available in the pipeline at Triple-A.
Third baseman Tyler Black has been a name floating around the system for a long time, as the former 2021 first-round pick has yet to establish himself as a full-time big-leaguer, but dominated this spring during Cactus League play while also appearing in the World Baseball Classic for Team Canada.
After he was sent back to Triple-A Nashville to begin the season, Black had a chance to play himself into consideration for a promotion early in the season. But is he making good on that promise?
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Milwaukee Brewers infielder Tyler Black, shown running the bases early in spring camp, had another big day at the plate on Thursday, Feb. 26, collecting three hits with a pair of RBI in a 5-1 victory over the Rangers in Cactus League action. | Dave Kallmann / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Generally speaking, Black's numbers to begin the year have been fine. He's not forcing his way to the majors with a .788 OPS in his first 45 plate appearances, which included just one home run. But he could also be one hot week away from re-entering that major league conversation.
If he was lighting up Triple-A pitching at the moment, it's fairly likely Black would have gotten the call to the majors by now. Newcomer Luis Rengifo has a .522 OPS and negative-0.1 bWAR as the starting third baseman, and second/third baseman David Hamilton hasn't been much better at a .622 OPS.
Black was legitimately tearing the cover off the ball this spring, with 14 RBIs and 11 hits in only 20 at-bats. But that was clearly too small a sample for the Brewers to trust him with a role on the 26-man roster, especially after the Rengifo signing.
This is a crucial year for Black. He turns 26 in July, and this is his final option year, meaning if he doesn't make a team's roster out of spring training next year, he'd have to be designated for assignment.
Time is running out to establish a role as a full-time big-leaguer, but Black is assuredly still on the Brewers' radar as an option to fill in if Rengifo keeps floundering.
This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/brewers/onsi as How Brewers Spring Star Tyler Black Has Fared in Triple-A Since Demotion .
