By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

When major league evaluators came to the Wright State Raiders university scout day, they came to see the program’s best draft prospect.

All they saw on Oct. 2 was the third baseman field ground balls and place them in a bucket.

No throws across the diamond.

Zero time in the batting cage.

There is a good reason to take it easy in the fall. Tyler Black had right shoulder surgery on his labrum May 19.

Black (Toronto, Ont.) a Toronto Mets grad, is expected to be 100% by spring. The Perfect Game Scouting Service thinks he’ll be ready for sure.

In fact, of its top 200 collegians listed for next July’s draft two Canucks make the list: Black and Great Lake Canadians RHP Eric Cerantola (Oakville, Ont.) of the Mississippi State Rebels. Cerantola is the top Canuck on Baseball America’s top 100.

Black (Toronto, Ont.) was a freshman All-American in 2019, and while he did play early this spring, he would have been shut down due to injury, had COVID-19 virus had not entered everyone’s world.

This spring, the 6-foot-2, 190 pounder appeared in 13 games during the shortened season with a .239 batting average with a double, triple, home run and five RBIs. He had a season-high three hits against Tennessee.

Black was seen because of a phone call Mets coach Rick Leitch made to Wright State. Then, the high schooler did the rest.

“Rick turned me on to Tyler,” said Nate Metzger, Wright State assistant head coach and recruiting co-ordinator. “Tyler had been injured in high school. Rick said the team was going to be in Indianapolis, a two hour drive from our campus in Dayton.

“The team hit inside and as soon I saw Tyler play catch on the field I phoned Jeff Mercer, our head coach at the time, and told him ‘we need him.’ I didn’t even see him hit on the field.”

Black didn’t do anything the rest of the tournament to alter Metzger’s option, playing for coach Chris Kemlo. Once Black committed he was told that there was a possibility he could face red shirt status.

“But, he came in that fall and beat the door down,” Metzger said. “We opened against Ole Miss. He didn’t play the first game, started the second and then hardly ever came out of the lineup.”

In 2019 as a freshman, Black appeared in 52 games making 44 starts. He hit .353 with 11 doubles, five triples, seven homers and 41 RBIs thanks to his 23 extra-base hits. Add in 38 walks, he had 102 total bases and a 1.069 on-base mark as the Raiders went 42-17.

Actually Black injured his shoulder at the end of the 2019 against Youngstown State. In a first and third situation, with Black on first, a Raider flew deep to centre. Black slid in head first into second and injured his shoulder.

Black struck out 18 times in 170 at-bats, stealing eight bases in 11 attempts. His best games were a four-hit game against Xavier and he drove in a season-best five RBIs against Northern Kentucky.

For his efforts, Black earned 2019 Horizon League Freshman of the Year honours as well as a Horizon League First Team and a spot on the All-Freshman Team. Prior to the Mets he learned from the best in coaches Rob and Rich Butler both with the Ontario Prospects and Stouffville Yankees, after breaking in with the Markham Mariners.

Metzger explained that the Raiders park, Nischwitz Stadium, the team’s clubhouse and weight room, are all key coded.

“If Tyler’s not in class, he’s usually in one of those places working out,” Metzger said.

Black’s father is Rod Black, the dynamic dynamo who often works as the emcee for both the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame ceremonies in St. Marys and the Toronto Mets annual banquet. His third job is broadcasting Your Toronto Raptors when the games are on TSN.

Black isn’t the only Canuck at Wright State. C Konner Piotto (Abootsford, BC) is in his senior year. He started 11 of the 13 games the Raiders played, batting .333 with five doubles and three RBIs. His best outings included five two-hit games and a season-best two RBIs against Western Kentucky. He could be a senior sign.

Piotto, a graduate of the Abbotsford Cardinals program and coach Corey Eckstein, appeared in 22 games with one start in 2019, hitting .071 and knocking in a run. Call it a period of adjustment after transferring from Glendale Community College. At Glendale, in 2018, he hit .344 with five doubles, a .440 on-base mark, 20 RBIs and 12 steals. His efforts earned him first team All-West Coast Conference honors.

And in 2017 at Glendale, he was in 22 games hitting .419.

“Canadian kids are different in my experience and we need more,” Metzger said. “They’re tough and they’re hard workers.”

* * *

A flashback to Tournament 12 coverage in 2016

Black wears navy: INF Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.), son of acclaimed TSN broadcaster Hot Rod Black, is with the Futures Navy team.

“My father used to catch and always liked baseball,” the son said of the father, who often is the MC at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in St. Marys. Rod coached his son Tyler as an eight-year old. “He got me into the game, he was really vocal, always talking when he coached our team,” Tyler said.

From there he moved on to the Markham Mariners for three years playing for coach Joe Bowen, the Toronto Maple Leafs broadcaster.

So, Tyler knows broadcasting and he knows broadcasters who coach.

Who was the better broadcaster?

“My dad,” said Tyler.

Who was the better coach?

“My dad,” said Tyler. “Joe’s son, David, is my good friend.”

Then the Winnipeg native began to play for the Ontario Prospects and last year former Ontario Prospects coaches Rob Butler and Rich Butler with the Stouffville Yankees. This season he has moved on to play for the Toronto Mets. He’s part of the Mets infield with Daniel Carinci and Dondrae Bremner, with Nick De-Ra. The first baseman are Ben Teplin and Michael Rourke.

Black played for Ontario at the Canada Cup which went 3-5 in Fort McMurray, Alta. He shared the lead as he batted .333 (8-for-24) along with Chatham’s Justin Doran (7-for-21). Black had a double, two triples and three RBIs

Perfect Game Scouting

Top 200 College Players

RK Name Pos. B-T HT WT School Hometown State

1. Kumar Rocker RHP R-R 6-4 255 Vanderbilt Athens GA

35. Tyler Black 3B L-R 6-2 190 Wright State Toronto ON

52. Eric Cerantola RHP R-R 6-5 195 Mississippi State Oakville ON

Baseball America

Top 100 College Players

RK Name School Position Hometown State

1. Kumar Rocker Vanderbilt RHP Athens GA

34. Eric Cerantola Mississippi State RHP Oakville, ON