Does This Mean it’s Tyler Time?
Tyler: Moving Up?
“The kid can swing a bat,” said YS9 hitting coach Sam Brewington. “And he’s really smooth in the infield. He’s a third baseman at heart, but I could see him playing all over the place.”
This is not particularly surprising. He turned a 4.7 WAR season in A-ball two seasons back, and did 4.8 in Santa Clara last year before tearing up the Winter Leagues. The kid’s ready, right? To prove it, he went to AAA Indianapolis when camp broke, and hit a double and a homer while OPSing .801. Not bad. The problem, of course, was that the team has Dong-po Thum at his natural third base slot. And the pair of Roberto Viramontas and Juan Lopez at second base. He can whistle a tune at Shortstop, but you’ve got Luis Pena there.
Now, of course, the world has shifted.
All because Louisville reliever Juan Pinto came into a game and drilled Lopez with a pitch that broke his kneecap. Lopez will be sidelined for up to four months, leaving the team with a need for a guy who can “play all over the place.” Calling Blanie Tyler, calling Blaine Tyler.
The question now, however, is whether the team will call him up today, or play the service time game and wait a week, thereby holding onto contractual control of the young man for a season longer.
“We’re thinking he needs to work on his shortstop defense a bit more,” said assistant GM Jesus Cabera during this week’s Fan Luncheon.
Which we read to suggest that the young Mr. Tyler may well spend another week in Indy.