Jalen Beeks

Position: LHSP
Level: MLB
Affiliate: Tampa Bay Rays
League: International League
Born: 07/10/1993 (Age: 30)
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 195
B/T: Left / Left
Acquired: 12th Rd., 2014 MLB First-Year Player Draft (BOS); Traded to TBR 7/25/2018

Prospect Spotlight

Taken in the 12th round of the 2014 draft out of Arkansas, Beek began the year at Double-A Portland, where he made nine starts and pitched 49 1/3 innings to a 2.19 ERA before earning his first promotion to the Triple-A level with PawSox on June 4. His body is fully developed at this point, and the sub-six footer works with a deceptive delivery and arm action. He has a long arm action with a stab in the back, but he showed the ability to repeat well in the six inning start that I viewed, where he allowed just three hits and a run, and struck out six against a single walk.

Beeks has a plus feel for pitching who has an aggressive approach and is a strike-thrower. He’s averaged 9.83 SO/9 for the year between Portland and Pawtucket (up from 7.5 SO/9 across three levels in 2016), with fringe-average control (3.3 BB/9, down from 3.5 last year), though the control has improved over last year (to 3.52 BB/9), and with the repeatable delivery the control should reach average. He showed solid-average fastball velocity, sitting 90-to-93 mph, with most readings at 91 mph with arm-side run and tailing action, and he located it to both sides of the plate with solid-average movement. The command was above average with the fastball he uses the pitch aggressively. He also threw an above-average cutter (88-to-89 mph) with short, quick action that was particularly effective versus righties. His curveball showed downer break in the 73-to-77 mph range, and at the higher velos it was most effective, with depth and occasional two-plane break. The pitch projects to be a fringe-average offering. The changeup was seldom used in this viewing, mostly to righties, and with some fade, and the pitch showed as average.

While Beeks won’t wow you with his size or his stuff, there is enough pitchability in him to see a ceiling of a Role 40 spot-starter or swingman in the major leagues. Travis Wood (LHP, Padres) is the player that comes to mind as a major league comp.