Brewers call up infield prospect Tyler Black from Class AAA Nashville

MLB Network reporter Jon Morosi reported Tuesday that the Milwaukee Brewers would be calling up top batting prospect Tyler Black on Tuesday from Class AAA Nashville.

Black, ranked No. 4 among prospects in the Brewers system entering the season by MLB.com and No. 42 overall, has been used at corner infield spots but primarily projects as a first baseman or designated hitter.

"Absolutely on the radar," said general manager Matt Arnold on Monday when asked about Black potentially being called up in the near future. "He's continuing to perform and is somebody who's doing everything the right way. Certainly, there are parts of his game that he needs to refine.

"But he is absolutely in play to help us at some point. He's such a great athlete, and he'll just run through a wall it feels like, every time he's on the field."

At Nashville this season, Black has been on fire, posting a .919 OPS (.303 batting average, .393 on-base percentage) with five homers and four additional extra-base hits in 117 plate appearances.

That's right in line with what he did last year, when he recorded a .930 OPS (.284 batting average, .417 on-base mark) and 18 homers in 557 plate appearances between Class AA Biloxi and Nashville.

The Toronto native, who turns 24 in July, was selected by the Brewers in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft with the 33rd overall pick out of Wright State University.

The bat has never been a question mark; the issue has been finding a spot for Black on the diamond defensively. He's played 18 games at Nashville at first base this year and six as DH, with one contest at third base (in which he committed two errors).

He committed 13 errors in 97 games playing at third base in the minors last year.

Baseball America evaluated Black as the "best hitter for average" and "best strike-zone discipline" in the farm system after the 2023 season. Baseball America also regards Black as the No. 4 prospect in the organization, behind Jackson Chourio, Jacob Misiorowski and Jeferson Quero.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Report: Brewers calling up infield prospect Tyler Black