Refreshing month for Beers puts unranked prospect on radar

This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ A’s Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Blake Beers ranks outside of the A’s Top 30 Prospects list, but his performance so far this season has forced evaluators to take notice.

In 21 games (18 starts) for Double-A Midland this season, Beers holds a 3.66 ERA with 101 strikeouts against 33 walks in 113 innings. His 1.16 WHIP ranks fifth-lowest among all qualified Texas League pitchers entering Tuesday.

Last month was his best, as Beers took home Texas League Pitcher of the Month honors for July after going 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 24 innings while holding opposing batters to a .176 average. He doubled up with teammate Denzel Clarke, rated Oakland’s No. 3 prospect, who earned July’s Texas League Player of the Month.

Beers, a 19th-round selection by the A’s in the 2021 MLB Draft out of the University of Michigan, is a bit of a late-bloomer. Though he’s 26 and going through his second year of Double-A, the A’s have seen major improvements from the right-hander that could help him progress through the system.

“Blake Beers has made an emphatic transformation this summer,” said A's assistant general manager and director of player personnel Billy Owens. “His fastball has maintained 93-97 mph. Both of his breaking pitches are quality offerings. His changeup contains noticeably more diving action. Pairing that improved stuff with a grade higher command, Beers is firmly on the industry radar.”