50 Ray Black RP

Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook said Sunday that Black is in "top shape" for summer camp after missing time in spring training with a minor back injury, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Black only missed a few workouts before spring training was halted in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so it's no surprise that he's fully healthy following a nearly four-month layoff. With all teams carrying 30-man rosters into Opening Day in late July, Black should have be in good position to earn a spot in the Milwaukee bullpen after receiving a look from the big club late in the 2019 campaign.

Black is dealing with a sore back, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The injury is not believed to be serious, but it does leave Black's status uncertain just a couple weeks before Opening Day. He could still break camp with a spot on the active roster, but he has not appeared in a game since March 1 and will likely need to pitch in at least a couple exhibition games in order to do so.

Black struck out three batters over 1.1 scoreless innings in Monday's victory over the Marlins.

Black reported to Triple-A after being acquired by the Brewers at the trade deadline and was called up two weeks later. He was sent back down after making two appearances out of the bullpen, but since rejoining the big club Aug. 25 he has been stellar, allowing just one hit while posting a 6:2 K:BB in 6.2 innings. Black has mainly worked in middle relief since joining the Brewers, but he did pick up his first hold with his new club Monday, and he could see more work in key spots before the season comes to a close.

Black was recalled from Triple-A San Antonio on Sunday.

Black rejoins the Brewers as Jeremy Jeffress (hip) makes his way to the injured list. Black has given up three runs on six hits with a 5:2 K:BB in 4.1 major-league innings this season.

Black was optioned to Triple-A San Antonio on Sunday.

He gave up two earned runs in 1.1 innings during Saturday's marathon game against the Nationals, so the Brewers needed to summon some fresh arms from Triple-A. Black will rejoin the big-league bullpen when rosters expand in September.

Black threw a scoreless inning of relief in his Brewers debut Wednesday.

Black reported to Triple-A San Antonio after being acquired at the trade deadline, but he was called up Wednesday and immediately saw action. Black put himself in a precarious position by allowing a one-out triple, but he was able to escape any damage by inducing an inning-ending double play on a lineout to the next batter. Black is an intriguing long-term option for the Brewers, thanks mainly to his triple-digit fastball, but he figures to pitch in middle relief for now.

Black was recalled from Triple-A San Antonio on Wednesday.

Black will provide the Brewers with a fresh bullpen arm for Wednesday's series finale against the Twins after Milwaukee used six relievers during Tuesday's 7-5 loss. Since being acquired from the Giants at the end of July, Black has issued just one walk while striking out five across four hitless innings for San Antonio. Jake Faria was optioned to the minors in a corresponding move.

Black was traded from the Giants to the Brewers along with Drew Pomeranz in exchange for Mauricio Dubon, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Black is best known for having a fastball that sits at 99 mph. He has a 6.04 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 25.1 MLB innings across 2018 and 2019. The 29-year-old righty has never been able to command his pitches well enough to profile as a high-leverage arm. He logged a 5.16 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 36 strikeouts in 22.2 innings at Triple-A this season, and should report to the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate for now.

Black was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento following Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader against the Rockies, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Black gave up a walk and two hits while fanning three in a scoreless inning during the first half of Monday's twin bill, but he's been demoted to Triple-A following the contest. Dereck Rodriguez was recalled in a corresponding move and will take the mound for Game 2.

Black was recalled by the Giants on Monday.

Black allowed a run in his lone inning of work earlier this season, bringing his career ERA to 6.29 in 24.1 big-league innings. His ERA sits at 5.21 in 19 frames for Triple-A Sacramento this season, with his 13.8 percent walk rate so far overwhelming his strong 35.0 percent strikeout rate. Evan Longoria landed on the 10-day injured list with plantar fasciitis in a corresponding move.

The Giants optioned Black to Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Black's demotion clears a spot on the active roster for Tyler Beede, who was recalled from Double-A Richmond ahead of his scheduled start Sunday in Milwaukee. During his two-week stint with the big club, Black made one appearance, giving up a run on two hits over his lone inning of relief.

Black was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday.

Tyler Beede was sent down with no need for a fifth starter until after the break, and it will be Black who takes his spot on the active roster. Black has shown flashes with his upper-90s fastball, but he's battled a variety of injuries throughout his career and the results at the big-league level last year left a lot to be desired.

Black (forearm) returned from the minor-league injured list Wednesday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Black missed just over a month with a forearm strain. He allowed five runs in seven innings with a 7:6 K:BB prior to the injury.

Black was placed on the minor-league injured list with a right forearm strain Saturday, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Black exited Triple-Sacramento's game Friday after throwing a pitch in the dirt and will be shut down from throwing for 7-to-10 days before resuming a throwing program.

Black was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Black has triple-digit heat, but he also has minor-league options, so he was sent down as the Giants look to manage their bullpen resources. He'll likely be back at some point this season, as his 6.17 ERA in 23.1 frames last year hid a decent 3.98 FIP.

Black has made six appearances this spring, posting a 3.38 ERA with five strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

Black is currently vying for a middle-relief role with the Giants this season. The hard-throwing righty can touch triple digits on the gun (97.9 mph fastball average last season), but his mediocre control (3.9 BB/9) and lack of command within the strike zone (1.5 HR/9) left him with a 6.17 ERA over 23.1 innings in 2018. Still, Black's elite strikeout numbers (12.7 K/9 in the majors was the lowest mark of any affiliated season) make him an intriguing relief arm should he not only win a job out of camp but move into a higher-leverage role at some point this season.

Black was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

While Black scuffled a bit in his first taste of the majors earlier in the year, posting a 5.74 ERA across 15.2 innings before getting demoted, he also flashed some upside with his 1.01 WHIP and 12.6 K/9 over that stretch. He should get plenty of opportunities to improve upon his body of work in the majors down the stretch.

Black was sent down to Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday.

In a corresponding move, Derek Law was recalled from the Triple-A level. Black allowed a run for the fourth time in his past five outings during his one inning of action Sunday, which raised his major-league ERA to 5.74 on the season.

Black fired a scoreless inning with a pair of strikeouts while picking up the first hold of his career in Thursday's win over the Diamondbacks.

Black has been on a roll of late, tossing 9.1 consecutive hitless innings following his rough major-league debut. Manager Bruce Bochy has taken notice of the rookie's performance, stating that the flamethrowing reliever has entered the late-inning mix, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. Black should be in line to see an uptick in hold opportunities following his bullpen promotion.

The Giants selected Black's contract from Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

San Francisco cleared room in the bullpen for Black by trading away three players -- including reliever Cory Gearrin -- to the Rangers on Sunday. Across 31.2 innings between Sacramento and Double-A Richmond this season, the 28-year-old Black posted a 2.27 ERA and 0.79 WHIP while riding a triple-digit fastball to 58 strikeouts. He'll likely work in middle relief for the Giants initially but could earn his way into a higher-leverage role if he makes major-league hitters whiff at this same prolific rate.