INF Tyler Black

Hometown: Stouffville, Ont.

Bats/Throws: L-R

Height/Weight: 6’ 2” 190 lbs.

Scout(s): Pete Pete Vuckovich Jr., Taylor Green (Comox, B.C.) and Pete Orr (Newmarket, Ont.)

Slot Money: $2,202,200

School: Wright State University.

Coach: Alex Sogard, whose brother Eric Sogard played for the Oakland A’s, Milwaukee Brewers, the Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago Cubs.

Previous Teams: Toronto Mets, Stouffville Yankees, Ontario Prospects and Markham Mariners.

Previous Coaches: Chris Kemlo, Rob Butler, Joe Bowen and Hot Rod Black.

Good genes: His mom, Nancy, played provincial volleyball in Ontario ... His father, acclaimed TSN broadcaster Rod Black, who played “pretty much every sport.”

The most influential people in my baseball life: “Are my parents.”

On other lists: Perfect Game’s second prospect of 11 in state of Ohio … Baseball America’s 3rd highest prospect of top 15 in state of Ohio … 35th on ESPN’s prospect list (April 19) ... 89th on MLB Pipeline’s list of prospects (May19) up 42 spots from 131st on MLB Pipeline’s top 200 (April 21) … No. 82 on Baseball America’s top 500 combined list (June 15)… Up 17 spots from No. 99 on Baseball America’s top 400 list (May 3), up 96 spots from March 27 when he was 195th, after previously being 212th (down 37 spots from 175th) ... No. 65th on Perfect Game’s combined list (April 28) … No. 59 on Perfect Game’s college list (Jan. 5) ... No. 47 on Keith Law’s top 100 in The Athletic (May 13) … 107th on Prospect Live top 500 (Sept. 10, 2020).

Summer plans: Decided not to play on the Cape for the Wareham Gatemen.

Twitter handle: @tylerblack_6.

What they are saying: “He earned some money the way he hit the ball in the Knoxville tournament … I think he is a Day One guy.” _ AL scouting director.

Scouting reports

Baseball America

82. Tyler Black

Wright State

Notes: Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 190 | B-T: R-R

Age At Draft: 21.0

BA Grade: 45 | Risk: High

Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 45

Black was a talented three-sport athlete who played football, hockey and baseball in Canada. He had a loud freshman season with Wright State in 2019, hitting .353/.469/.600 with more walks (38) than strikeouts (18). Black entered the 2021 season as a sleeper candidate after a disappointing 13-game stretch in 2020, because scouts believed in his hitting ability and strike-zone discipline. Black lived up to those expectations this spring, although he admittedly plays in an extremely hitter-friendly conference and home park. Black posted a .383/.496/.683 slash line with a career-best 13 home runs while continuing to manage the strike zone at an impressive rate, with 39 walks to 25 strikeouts.

Black has a big leg kick to start his swing but keeps his hands quiet and steady in his load before firing through the zone with impressive hand speed. He has a pull-heavy approach, and this spring did a tremendous amount of damage on pitches on the inner third. Black has an offensive-driven profile and while he’s played both second and third this spring, scouts see him more likely winding up at second base at the next level. He’s a fringy runner and defender, with below-average arm strength after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder to repair a labrum tear in 2020. Teams who buy into his bat could take him somewhere in the second- or third-round range after a strong 2021 campaign.

MLB Pipeline

55. Tyler Black

AGE 20 DOB 07/26/2000

BATS L, THROWS R

HT 6’ 2” WT 190

Scouting Grades/Report

(20-80 grading scale)

HIT 60 POWER 45 RUN 50 ARM 50 FIELD 50

OVERALL 50

The son of sports broadcaster Rod Black, Tyler was a talented hockey defence man before leaving the ice to focus on baseball. The 2019 Horizon League freshman of the year, he slumped during the shortened 2020 season but has rebounded to establish himself as one of the best left-handed college bats in the Midwest. He could give Wright State its fourth position player drafted in the top four rounds in the last five years, following Sean Murphy (Athletics, 2016), Peyton Burdick (Marlins, 2019) and Seth Gray (Twins, 2019).

Black masterfully controls the strike zone from the left side of the plate, making regular hard contact while drawing plenty of walks. He has enough bat speed, strength and leverage in his 6-foot-2 frame to produce 15 homers on an annual basis. He made a good impression by doubling in two at-bats off potential No. 1 overall pick Kumar Rocker of Vanderbilt on Opening Day and by drawing seven walks in five games against Southeastern Conference opposition to start the season.

While he possesses average speed, Black has the instincts to steal and take extra bases when given the opportunity. He played second base as a freshman before moving to third base in 2020, and now he’s back at the keystone following surgery on his throwing shoulder. His arm is merely average so he fits better at second, where his quickness and hands are assets with turning the double play.

Keith Law

The Athletic

The Canadian-born Black has emerged as one of the best college position players in the draft class and could push himself into the late first round, as he’s hitting .387/.500/.650 this year, still showing great plate discipline, but now with more power. He’s played all over the infield, but second base is his most likely landing spot.

Prospects Live

After staring at second base his Freshman season at Wright State the strong hitting infielder was prepared to move over to third base full time. Black has the skills to fit in multiple positions in the infield, but it’s his bat and not his defensive versatility that will make him an interesting follow-on draft day. He slashed .353/.469/.600 his Freshmen season and was the pre-season pick for Horizon League player of the year almost unanimously. He shows an advanced approach at the plate and good control of the barrel. His strong hands and above average power allow him to profile as a bat first second baseman even if third doesn’t work out in 2021.

This spring, 2021 as a red-shirt sophomore: Hit .383 with 14 doubles, a triple, 13 home runs and 59 RBIs … Owns a 1.179 OPS 48 games … At the Knoxville regional went 4-for-5 with two homers and three RBIs against Tennessee … Then, homered and knocked in two runs in loss to Duke … In the Horizon tournament he was 4-for-9 (.444) with eight doubles in two games against Milwaukee and one against Illinois-Chicago with a double and a homer … Opened by pulling a double to right centre -- facing Kumar Rocker, possible No. 1 pick in North America -- in season opener against Vanderbilt Commodores ... Went 2-for-8 with an RBI in three-game series facing Alabama ... Was 7-for-15 (.467) with a double, triple and three RBIs in four-game series against Northern Kentucky ... Next, was another hot four-game series going 9-for-16 (.563) against Youngstown State with a double, four homers and eight RBIs ... Then he went 6-for-16 (.375) facing Illinois-Chicago hitting a double, two bombs and six RBIs ... In the return match with Youngstown State he was 1-for-13 in four games, hitting a three-run homer ... He was 5-for-11 in a three-game set facing Florida Gulf Coast hitting a double and plating a pair ... On the return trip to Northern Kentucky, he was (4-for-13, .308) with two RBIs ... He was a sight to behold in a four-game series against Purdue Fort Wayne as hit .440 (11-for-25) knocking in eight runs with three doubles, two homers and eight RBIs ... Against Milwaukee he was 5-for-14 (.357) with two doubles, two homers and five RBIs ... Facing Oakland in a four-game set he went 4-for-11 with two-run homer … Was 6-for-13 (.461) with three doubles and two RBIs against Charleston.

2020 season as a sophomore: Appeared in 13 games with 12 starts during the shortened season, recording a .239 batting average with one double, one triple and one home run while driving in five runs … Had a season-high three hits against Tennessee.

2019 season as a freshman: Appeared in 52 games with 44 starts, hitting .353 with 41 RBIs and 23 extra-base hits ... He added 38 walks for 102 total bases on the season, a 1.069 on-base percentage, while fanning 18 times in 170 at-bats ... Was 8-for-11 stealing bases ... Has a season-high four hits against Xavier ... Knocked in season-best five runs against Northern Kentucky as part of a three-hit game ...

Honours: 2021 season _ Elected to ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-America Third Team … Earned spot on Knoxville Regional team … Named to All-Horizon League First Team … 2019 season _ Named 2019 Horizon League Freshman of the Year, Horizon First Teamer and to Horizon All-Freshman Team ... 2018 season _ MVP at St. Andrews College ... 2017 season _ MVP at St. Andrews ... 2016 season _ with Ontario Youth team at Canada Cup in Fort McMurray, Alta. he shared top hitting laurels with a .333 (8-for-24) mark, including a double, two triples and three RBIs, along with Justin Doran (Chatham, Ont.) who went 7-for-21.

The man knows his broadcasters: His father -- TSN’s Hot Rod Black -- and coach Joe Bowen, the Maple Leafs broadcaster coached him during his formative years. We asked him at the 2016 Tournament 12, who was the better broadcaster Bowen or Black? “My dad,” said Tyler. Better coach? “My dad,” said Tyler. “Joe’s son, David, is a good friend.”

Alexis Brudnicki in Baseball America: Tyler Black Adds ‘Accidental’ Power With Newfound Approach

John Cudmore: Black selected by Milwaukee Brewers in 1st round of draft

Dan Zielinski III: Black evolves into a top prospect

Joe Doyle and Ralph host draft profile: Prime Time Sports Talk

Perfect Game loves Tyler Black