4 Brewers prospects already off to hot starts in 2024

Nashville Sounds - 1B Tyler Black

The highest ranked position player prospect not in the majors (Jackson Chourio) or on the IL (Jeferson Quero) is Tyler Black, and he is playing like it. Once thought to be competing for the starting third base job in spring training, Black has primarily been playing first base this year following the arrival of Joey Ortiz and Sal Frelick's potential third base ability.

A Competitive Balance Round A pick back in 2021 out of Wright State, Black has been steadily climbing and increasing his prospect stock ever since. The book on him coming out of college was great bat to ball skills but limited power and a lack of a clear defensive home. The contact ability was legit enough to make him a top pick. He was a second baseman at the time with a weak throwing arm, but the Brewers put him at third and he was playable there. Now, they've moved him over to first.

He's taking to his new position like a fish to water and his bat has shown no signs of suffering either. Through his first 25 games and 99 ABs, Black is hitting .303/.393/.525 with a double, three triples, and five home runs. He's walked 13 times and struck out 16 with three stolen bases and a .918 OPS.

While he hasn't been on pace to repeat his 55 stolen base performance last year, the numbers are incredible, and it feels like it's only a matter of time until he earns the call up to the big leagues this season. He's hitting for average and power and he's not striking out much. Jake Bauers has struggled in the backup role behind Rhys Hoskins and Black could present an upgrade at that spot. However, the Brewers will also want to get Black regular at-bats which he may not necessarily get behind Hoskins at first base and there aren't many at-bats available at third or DH either.

At some point though, Black's production will prove to be too much for the Brewers to keep him down any longer. He's doing a great job of that through the first month of the Triple-A season and if he keeps hitting like this and playing solid defense at first, he'll be up in no time.