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Jalen Beeks

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Jalen Beeks
Beeks with the Tampa Bay Rays
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1993-07-10) July 10, 1993 (age 31)
Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
June 7, 2018, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record23–15
Earned run average4.40
Strikeouts329
Teams

Jalen Christopher Beeks (born July 10, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates. Boston selected Beeks in the 12th round of the 2014 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut for them in 2018.

Career

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Beeks pitching for the Razorbacks in 2013

Amateur career

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Beeks attended Prairie Grove High School in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. He played for the school's baseball team and graduated in 2011.[1] He enrolled at Crowder College, and transferred to the University of Arkansas, where he played college baseball for the Arkansas Razorbacks.[2] A reliable reliever during the 2013 season, Beeks allowed the game-tying and go-ahead runs on consecutive wild pitches during an intentional walk in the 7th inning against the Kansas State Wildcats in the Manhattan Regional. The Razorbacks were eliminated from the postseason following the 4–3 loss.[3]

After the 2013 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and was named a league all-star.[4] Beeks returned to Arkansas for the 2014 season as the opening day starter, starting 13 games with a 6–4 record and 1.98 earned run average (ERA).

Boston Red Sox

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The Boston Red Sox selected Beeks in the 12th round of the 2014 MLB draft.[5] He signed and made his debut that same year for the GCL Red Sox, pitching five scoreless innings. In 2015, he pitched for the Greenville Drive of the Single–A South Atlantic League, where he had a 9–7 win–loss record with a 4.32 earned run average (ERA) in 26 starts, and in 2016, he pitched both for the Salem Red Sox of the High–A Carolina League and Portland Sea Dogs of the Double–A Eastern League,[6] compiling a combined 9–8 record and 3.87 ERA in 26 starts.

In 2017, Beeks played for Portland and the Pawtucket Red Sox of the Triple–A International League.[7] The Red Sox named him their Minor League Pitcher of the Year[8] after he posted a combined 11–8 record, 3.29 ERA, and 1.21 WHIP in 26 games started between the two teams.[9] The Red Sox added Beeks to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season.[10] He began the 2018 season with Pawtucket.[11]

Beeks was promoted to Boston's active roster on June 7, 2018,[12] in order to make his MLB debut in a start against the Detroit Tigers.[13] Beeks gave up five first-inning runs and took the loss;[14] he was optioned back to Pawtucket the next day.[12] Beeks was recalled to Boston on July 10; he pitched 2+1⁄3 innings that day, allowing four hits and three runs, and was then returned to Triple-A.[15]

Tampa Bay Rays

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On July 25, 2018, the Red Sox traded Beeks to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-handed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi.[16] With the Rays, Beeks made 12 appearances through the end of the season, compiling a 5–0 record with a 4.47 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 44+1⁄3 innings.

Beeks began the 2019 season with Tampa Bay.[17] He was optioned to the Triple-A Durham Bulls on June 28,[18] and was recalled on July 16.[19] He finished the season with a 6–3 record, 4.31 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 89 strikeouts over 104+1⁄3 innings at the MLB level.[20]

On August 25, 2020, Beeks tore his ulnar collateral ligament while pitching against the Baltimore Orioles, ending his season and requiring Tommy John surgery.[21] On February 17, 2021, Beeks was placed on the 60-day injured list as he continued to recover from Tommy John surgery.[22]

On March 22, 2022, Beeks signed a $750,000 contract with the Rays, avoiding salary arbitration.[23] On June 4, Beeks, along with 4 other Rays teammates, opted out of wearing a Rays team logo and cap in support of LGBTQ+ Pride, during the team's annual Pride Night celebration at Tropicana Field.[24] In 42 appearances for the club in 2022, he registered a 2.80 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 2 saves in 61.0 innings of work.[25]

In 2023, Beeks made 30 appearances for the Rays, but struggled to a 5.95 ERA with 47 strikeouts across 42+1⁄3 innings pitched. Following the season on November 4, Beeks was removed from the 40–man roster and placed on outright waivers.[26]

Colorado Rockies

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On November 6, 2023, Beeks was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies.[27] In 45 appearances for Colorado in 2024, Beeks compiled a 6–4 record and 4.74 ERA with 38 strikeouts and 9 saves.

Pittsburgh Pirates

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On July 29, 2024, Beeks was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Luis Peralta.[28]

Personal

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Beeks and his wife, Brie, have a son and two daughters.[29] The family resides in Northwest Arkansas.[30]

References

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  1. ^ Humphrey, Mark (January 15, 2020). "Journey to Major League Mound". Washington County Enterprise-Leader. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  2. ^ Humphrey, Mark (August 16, 2017). "Prairie Grove Graduate Jalen Beeks Makes Triple A". Washington County Enterprise-Leader. Retrieved September 30, 2024 – via PressReader.
  3. ^ "Beeks Dominant in Arkansas' Season Opener". Fort Smith, Arkansas: Southwest Times Record. February 15, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  4. ^ "#31 Jalen Beeks - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  5. ^ "A star is born? Maybe it's Red Sox prospect Jalen Beeks". bostonglobe.com. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  6. ^ "Another Razorback hopes to join the Red Sox – Portland Press Herald". Pressherald.com. August 24, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  7. ^ "Jalen Beeks has built himself a future in the big leagues". Bostonglobe.com. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  8. ^ "Red Sox prospect Jalen Beeks (Andrew Benintendi's college teammate) studied Jon Lester, Mariano Rivera YouTube videos last winter". masslive.com. October 18, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  9. ^ "Jalen Beeks Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  10. ^ Smith, Christopher (November 20, 2017). "Boston Red Sox 40-man roster: Jalen Beeks, Chandler Shepherd, Ty Buttrey added to roster, protected from Rule 5 Draft". masslive.com. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  11. ^ Reimer, Alex (May 1, 2018). "Jalen Beeks is the Red Sox' most dominant pitching prospect, and he kind of came out of nowhere". WEEI. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. June 2018. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  13. ^ "Red Sox's Jalen Beeks: Will start Thursday for Red Sox". CBS Sports. June 5, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  14. ^ "Tigers vs. Red Sox - Box Score". ESPN. June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  15. ^ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. July 2018. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  16. ^ Mahoney, Andrew (July 25, 2018). "Red Sox acquire Nathan Eovaldi from Rays". Boston.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  17. ^ Russell, Daniel (March 26, 2019). "Rays set 25 man roster for Opening Day". draysbay.com. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  18. ^ "Rays Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. June 2019. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  19. ^ "Rays Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. July 2019. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  20. ^ "Jalen Beeks Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  21. ^ Topkin, Marc. "Rays' Jalen Beeks out for season with elbow tear". Tampa Bay Times.
  22. ^ "Rays Acquire Chris Mazza, Jeffrey Springs from Red Sox". February 17, 2021.
  23. ^ "Arbitration Tracker For 2022". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  24. ^ Topkin, Marc (June 4, 2022). "Most, but not all, Rays show their LGBTQ+ support". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  25. ^ "Jalen Beeks - Stats - Pitching". fangraphs.com. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  26. ^ "Rays' Jalen Beeks: Cast off 40-man roster". cbssports.com. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  27. ^ "Rockies' Jalen Beeks: Lands in Colorado". cbssports.com. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  28. ^ Stumpf, Alex. "Pirates acquire lefty reliever Beeks from Rockies". MLB.com.
  29. ^ Boyd, Paul (January 20, 2020). "Beeks relishes time in majors thus far". Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  30. ^ Cotillo, Chris (August 19, 2018). "Jalen Beeks excited for chance with Rays, wishes Sox 'nothing but the best'". masslive. Retrieved June 27, 2024.

Further reading

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