Tristan Beck 2017 MLB Draft Profile
Overview
Tristan Beck could have been a first round pick out of high school had he not been determined to attend college. He tossed 182 varsity innings in his high school career, going 19-4 with a 1.23 ERA, 180 strikeouts, and 60 walks. The 6’4”, 160-pound righty was the 28th overall prospect entering the 2015 MLB Draft, but told teams he wouldn’t sign. The Milwakee Brewers selected him in the 34th round anyway, but Beck kept his word and went on to college life at Stanford.
As a freshman, he quickly emerged as an ace for the Cardinal, and has the hardware to show for it. He was named a Rawlings-Perfect Game First-Team Freshman All-American, a Baseball America First-Team Freshman All-American, a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, and a First-Team All-Pac-12 member. He became just the third freshman since 1988, joining Mike Mussina and Cal Quantrill, to start Opening Day for Stanford, and led the Cardinal staff with a 2.48 ERA and 76 strikeouts. He is draft eligible as a sophomore, but could opt to remain at Stanford for another year.
Strengths
Beck has three developed pitches: a low-90s fastball, a 12-6 curve, and a changeup. His easy, repeatable delivery and quick pace on the mound give him above-average control of all his pitches, which will extend his career as a big leaguer. As he grows and adds strength, his fastball should gain some velocity, which will make him a quality MLB starter one day.
Beck is also highly intelligent. He’ll be able to out-think most opposing hitters, and will be a film room junkie.
Weaknesses
Beck needs to add weight, as he’s too slim at the moment. He’s also only pitched one year at the college level, and could potentially benefit from staying at Stanford. More alarmingly, Beck suffered a stress fracture in his back before the start of his sophomore year. If he can return and pitch this season, he could get back on the track he started on as a freshman. If he can’t, he’ll probably choose to stay at Stanford, even if he gets drafted. Teams might also think twice about drafting a pitcher coming off a bad back injury.
MLB Comparison
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