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MILWAUKEE — The Brewers called up infielder Tyler Black on Tuesday, adding the hot-hitting 23-year-old to an already young and inexperienced lineup.

Black was called up from Triple-A Nashville ahead of the Brewers’ game against the Tampa Bay Rays in an effort to add some punch to a struggling offense.

Black was off to a tremendous start at Nashville. In 117 plate appearances, Black was batting .303 with three triples, five home runs and 18 RBIs while compiling a .919 OPS.

The Brewers are hoping his production will help an offense that has been held to three or fewer runs in 10 of the past 14 games.

Defensively, Black had played primarily at third base since Milwaukee selected him out of Wright State in the first round of the 2021 draft. After acquiring prospect Joey Ortiz from Baltimore in a trade for Corbin Burnes, the Brewers shifted Black to first base during spring training. He’s likely to see most of his action there, splitting time with veteran slugger Rhys Hoskins.

Black was ranked the fourth-best prospect in the Brewers’ organization and the No. 51 prospect in all of baseball by ESPN MLB Insider Kiley McDaniel entering the season.

To make room for Black on the active roster, the Brewers optioned infielder Owen Miller to Nashville.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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What’s in a name? Brewers trade Brewer Hicklen

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What's in a name? Brewers trade Brewer Hicklen

MILWAUKEE — Brewer Hicklen is no longer a Brewer.

The outfielder was traded by the Brewers to the Detroit Tigers on Friday for cash. The move comes a day after he was designated for assignment.

The 29-year-old Hicklen scored a run but went hitless in four plate appearances for Milwaukee last season while appearing in six games. He also hit .246 with 22 homers, 72 RBI and 44 steals in 115 games with Triple-A Nashville.

When Milwaukee called him up last September, it marked the first time in franchise history that the Brewers’ roster had a player named Brewer.

Hicklen also appeared in six games with the Kansas City Royals in 2022.

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Misner walks off Rays, makes history in process

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Misner walks off Rays, makes history in process

TAMPA, Fla. — Rookie Kameron Misner led off the ninth inning with his first major league home run, giving Tampa Bay a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Friday as the Rays began their season of home games at Steinbrenner Field.

Miser, a 27-year-old who debuted last August, entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth. He drove a first-pitch fastball from Victor Vodnik (0-1) over the right-field wall for his second big league hit.

He became the first player in major league history to have his first home run be a walk-off home run on Opening Day.

“I’m actually still trying to feel it,” he said on the field after the win. “It all happened so fast. Best-case scenario.”

Pete Fairbanks (1-0) worked around two walks in the ninth for the win.

Tampa Bay is playing at the New York Yankees‘ spring training home after Hurricane Milton destroyed the Tropicana Field roof Oct. 9.

Kyle Freeland struck out seven in six scoreless innings for the Rockies, coming off their sixth straight losing season. Freeland threw 53 of 67 pitches for strikes, starting his first eight batters with strikes and 15 of 20 overall.

Tampa Bay tied the score in the seventh on Jonathan Aranda‘s sacrifice fly and José Caballero’s RBI single against Tyler Kinley.

Tampa Bay last year ended a streak of five straight postseason appearances.

Colorado’s Ezequiel Tovar hit an RBI double in the third and Kyle Farmer a sacrifice fly in the fourth against Ryan Pepiot, who gave up two runs — one earned — and six hits in six innings with eight strikeouts and a walk.

Mickey Moniak made his Rockies debut as a pinch runner in the ninth and was caught stealing.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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D-backs lock up RHP Pfaadt on 5-year, $45M deal

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D-backs lock up RHP Pfaadt on 5-year, M deal

PHOENIX — Right-hander Brandon Pfaadt agreed to a five-year, $45 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday as the team continues its push to secure its young standouts on long-term contracts.

Pfaadt’s deal begins in 2026 and includes a club option for 2031 and a mutual option in 2032.

Pfaadt, 26, was one of the team’s most consistent pitchers last season, finishing with an 11-10 record and a 4.71 ERA while setting career highs in wins, starts (32), innings pitched (181⅔) and strikeouts (185).

Pfaadt also gave the team an unexpected boost during its postseason run to the World Series in 2023, going 3-1 with a 3.27 ERA over five starts.

He’ll make $799,400 this year before the new contract kicks in next season.

Pfaadt’s deal is the latest example of the D-backs signing young players to long-term extensions, joining shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (four years, $45 million) and reliever Justin Martinez (five years, $18 million).

Pfaadt was a fifth-round pick out of Bellarmine in 2020.

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