Canadian Tyler Black named Brewers’ co-Minor League Player of the Year

September 29, 2023

By Kevin Glew

Cooperstowners in Canada

Canadian Tyler Black has been named the Milwaukee Brewers co-Minor League Player of the Year.

The Stouffville, Ont., native shares the honours with 19-year-old outfield prospect Jackson Chourio.

Selected 33rd overall by the Brewers in the 2021 MLB draft out of Wright State University, Black split the 2023 season between the double-A Biloxi Shuckers and the triple-A Nashville Sounds, batting a combined .284 with a .417 on-base percentage (OBP) in 123 games. The Toronto Mets alum had 25 doubles, 12 triples, 18 home runs, 73 RBIs, 105 runs and 55 stolen bases.

The 23-year-old Black, who honed his skills under the guidance of ex-big leaguers and brothers Rob and Rich Butler at Butler Prospects for many years, spent 84 games in double-A to start the season where his slash line was .273/.411/.513. With Biloxi, he registered 16 doubles, eight triples, 14 home runs, 48 RBIs, 70 runs and 47 stolen bases.

In early August, he was promoted to triple-A and proceeded to batted .310 and post a .428 OBP in 39 games. With Nashville, he also had nine doubles, four triples, four home runs, 25 RBIs, 35 runs and eight stolen bases.

Black’s combined 12 triples were the most in the entire affiliated minor league ranks. He also led Brewers minor leaguers in runs (105), stolen bases (55) and extra-base hits (55), and ranked second in OPS (.930), hits (128), walks (88) and total bases (231).

For his efforts, he was named to the double-A Southern League All-Star Team on Tuesday.

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 in 2022, Black played third base (97 games) and first base (16 games) in 2023.

The 19-year-old Chourio hit .282 with 22 home runs, 91 RBIs and 44 stolen bases in 128 games between double-A and triple-A.