Corey

Black

Black has been in the Chicago system since coming over to the Yankees in the deal for Alfonso Soriano in 2013. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017, and made just seven appearances at the instructional level for the Cubs in 2018. He’ll likely pitch at Triple-A Iowa in 2018.

Black, 21, has a 4.25 ERA and 88/45 K/BB ratio in 82 2/3 innings over 19 starts this season with High-A Tampa. Standing at 5-foot-11, he throws hard and likely profiles as a reliever in the long run. The Cubs are probably just thrilled that they are no longer responsible for all of Soriano’s contract.

He gave up just one hit in five solid innings. Black fanned six hitters without allowing a walk. Though he hasn’t won since his first outing of the season, Black owns an impressive 3.24 ERA across eight starts. He’s been especially hard on lefties, limiting them to a .130 average in 16 2/3 innings. Out of 165 batters faced, only one has homered off Black this season.

He walked two batters in the outing. Black, 22, is in the midst of his best month of the season, as the right-hander has posted a 1.52 ERA and 23-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 23 2/3 innings over his last four starts. Overall, Black has pitched to a 2.63 ERA this season to go along with a .203 opponents’ batting average and 91-46 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 89 innings for Tennessee. Though he’s a hard thrower with a swing-and-miss arsenal, the effort in Black’s delivery limits his overall command as a starter and prevents him from working deep into games. He’s more likely to serve as a reliever in the major leagues.

Black is a future reliever who has considerable effort in his delivery who has the potential to close. He is unlikely to ever make a top 100 list, but, with his career 9.2K/9 rate, he could be in Chicago before the end of 2014.

His teammates scored eight runs in the top of the first, so the no-hitter was salt in the wound for the opponent. Black is a hard-throwing pitcher who projects as a high-leverage bullpen arm. He has a 2.65 ERA on the season with 8.5 K/9, 6.4 BB/9, and 3.7 hit/9 rates.