The San Francisco Giants had a vacant roster spot after placing Justin Verlander on the injured list. On Friday, they filled it by calling up Tristan Beck from the Sacramento River Cats, according to the team’s transaction log.
Not long ago, Beck was considered a viable candidate for a starting rotation spot. He features a four-pitch arsenal, led by a mid-90s four-seam fastball, complemented by a slider, sweeper, and curveball. His solid command of all four pitches typically aligns with what teams look for in a starter.
In 2023, Beck had a productive stint with the Giants, recording a 3.92 ERA over 85 innings. He came into the 2024 season as a potential depth option for the rotation, but a right arm aneurysm led to surgery and sidelined him for most of the year.
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After recovering, Beck returned late in the season and turned in seven strong outings for San Francisco.
He came into spring training with a slim chance to crack the big-league roster but was instead sent to Triple-A, where he’s been used solely as a reliever. So far, the 28-year-old has delivered a 3.24 ERA, 2.77 FIP, 1.20 WHIP, 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings, and a 2.64 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 25 innings. Notably, he hasn’t given up a home run despite pitching in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
According to Justice delos Santos of The Mercury News, Beck’s four-seamer has returned to its pre-surgery velocity. He’s also added a sinker and cutter to his pitch selection.
The Giants have used Hayden Birdsong, Kyle Harrison, and Spencer Bivens in multi-inning relief roles. With Birdsong moving into the starting rotation and Harrison scheduled to start against the Nationals on Saturday, Beck may be a more natural long-term fit for that bullpen role. It’s a key need, given that most Giants relievers typically pitch only one inning. If Beck continues to perform, he could cement his place in the bullpen this season.
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