Canadian Tyler Black named Brewers’ Minor League Player of the Month

May 11, 2023

By Kevin Glew

Cooperstowners in Canada

Canadian infielder Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.) has been named the Milwaukee Brewers’ Minor League Player of the Month for April.

The 22-year-old Toronto Mets alum posted a .456 on-base percentage (OBP) and a .938 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) in 18 games for the double-A Biloxi Shuckers in the season’s first month. He also batted .250 (14-for-56) with four home runs, 13 RBIs, 10 stolen bases and drew 17 walks.

Selected 33rd overall in the 2021 MLB draft by the Brewers out of Wright State University, Black ranked second among Southern League players in April in OBP (.456), and walks (17) and third in stolen bases (10) and runs (15). His .938 OPS was fourth best in the circuit.

Black, the son of legendary Canadian sports broadcaster Rod Black, had an outstanding first full professional season in 2022, batting .281 and posting 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.

After splitting time between second base, third base and centre field last season, Black has found a home at the hot corner for Biloxi this year and his strong stretch at the plate has continued this month. In six games for Biloxi in May, he is 8-for-23 (.348 batting average) with a .500 OBP and a 1.196 OPS. He has also added seven home runs and seven stolen bases and is now batting .278 for the season.