Beeks gets called up to Boston
PAWTUCKET – Jalen Beeks was busy charting pitches while watching Tuesday’s Pawtucket-Louisville game on the couch in the home clubhouse.
It was the ninth inning when the lefthander was asked to meet pitching coach Kevin Walker in the trainer’s room.
The Red Sox have deemed that now is the time for Beeks. Thursday night at Fenway Park, the 24-yearold will make his major-league debut against the Detroit Tigers.
When PawSox manager Kevin Boles received official word about Beeks, he knew exactly what needed to be done. He delegated the messenger role to Walker, a responsibility that was most fitting considering the circumstances.
When Beeks pitched for Double-A Portland for parts of the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Walker was his pitching coach. This year, Walker once again was afforded a front-row seat to a pitcher who had emerged as one of the top arms in the International League. There’s enough history that Boles felt it would be best to step aside and let Walker serve as the bearer of good news.
“Walk got to send the message which I think is appropriate,” Boles said.
“I appreciate Bolesy allowing me to do that,” said Walker.
“That’d be the guy I would want to tell me,” said Beeks about the special conversation he had with Walker. “We’ve been through a lot so it’s really cool.”
Walker had been in the same room when players received word they were big-league bound. He’s informed pitchers with MLB statistics on the back of their baseball card that they’re getting another shot.
What about letting a player know that his next start will be accompanied by an asterisk that signifies his first-ever start in the bigs? For Walker, the exchange he had with Beeks on Tuesday could be classified as unique, one that he won’t forget anytime soon.
“It’s very cool to share in the experience, getting that news for the first time. So that was awesome,” Walker said. “It’s a moment that doubles as a life-changing experience. All the dreams that you’ve had since you were a little kid are coming to fruition. To capture that reaction is something that I’ll always remember.”
Per Walker, Beeks was “stunned” when relayed news that his next start wouldn’t be against Lehigh Valley but rather Detroit.
“Once you think about it, all those things you’ve done your entire life all come into focus. Everything you’ve worked for has finally paid off. It’s special moment for anyone who gets that call,” Walker said. “He was very surprised and very happy. I couldn’t be happier for him. Every person who plays this game, their dream is to someday become a major leaguer. To be a part of them finding out that they’re going to be a major leaguer is special.”
Among International League starters, Beeks ranked first in strikeouts (80), second in WHIP (0.80), and fourth in ERA (2.56). In baseball circles, he’s known as a crafty pitcher whose deceptive arm motion and late movement helps him hide the ball from hitters and makes squaring him up a challenge. In 10 starts with Pawtucket, he’s held the opposition to a paltry .197 batting average.
Selected in the 12th round of the 2014 draft by Boston, Beeks relies on a four-pitch arsenal. Typically, he’ll start hitters with something off- speed before mixing in his fastball that sits between 92-94 miles per hour but has the potential to cross the plate a few ticks faster thanks to his Houdini-esque delivery. Scouts note that he possesses the ability to pitch to both sides of the plate and can elevate his fastball when the situation warrants.
“He’s learned to mix all four pitches with the curveball and changeup playing off the fastball and cutter,” Walker said. “The biggest difference between this year and last year is that he’s trusting himself more in the strike zone and being more aggressive. That’s allowed him to get in much better counts.”
Walker was once in Beeks’ shoes. On April 14, 2000, he made his big-league debut out of the bullpen for the San Diego Padres. He remembers being so nervous that he walked the first Houston batter he faced. Eventually, he was taken deep for a grand slam by future Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell.
Fast forward to now where Walker finds himself in a position where he can dispense some words of advice and/or pearls of wisdom to Beeks.
“Just go up and enjoy it. Be who you are and don’t be somebody you’re not. Pitch the way you’ve been pitching,” Walker said. “He’s got major league stuff to go up and do what he’s already been doing.”
EXTRA BASES: Word out of Boston is that outfielder Mookie Betts would like to go on a rehab assignment before getting activated. The PawSox are home through Sunday. … Home runs by Dan Butler and Aneury Tavarez coupled with 5.1 innings of one-run ball by starter William Cuevas helped the PawSox down the Bats, 8-1, on Wednesday night before 5,721 fans. Butler blasted a three-run home run as part of a four-run second inning while Tavarez blasted a solo shot in the third as part of a three-RBI night. … Cuevas threw 105 pitches (68 strikes) before handing things off to the PawSox bullpen. The righthander allowed a home run to Tony Cruz in the sixth, one of three hits he allowed. He struck out four and walked three en route to picking up his third win. … One night after going 5-for-5, Rusney Castillo picked up two more hits. … Pawtucket committed its eighth error over the past six games, a recent trend that’s dismayed Boles. “Below average. We need to get better. Our pitchers have had to work extra hard. Eventually that will bite you if you’re not careful,” the skipper said. … The series with the Bats concludes this morning with first pitch at 11. Chandler Shepherd (3-4, 3.93) will be on the mound for Pawtucket.