'Extra adrenaline' helping Beck in hunt for a role
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Tristan Beck knows perseverance. A back injury in college. A COVID-forced work stoppage in 2020. An aneurysm in his right upper am almost exactly a year ago that forced him into a "no-sweat summer."
Normalcy has a nice ring to it.
Beck, in contention for a spot on the Opening Day roster, made his first start of the spring in the Giants’ 11-2 Cactus League victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, and he made the most of it.
He retired eight of the nine batters he faced in 2 2/3 innings, striking out three and giving up Bo Naylor’s third homer of the spring while facing the Guardians’ ‘A’ lineup including Steven Kwan, José Ramírez, Carlos Santana, Lane Thomas and Naylor.
"A little extra adrenaline getting the start and all that, but I feel great,” Beck said.
It is a welcome change from this time last Spring Training, when the numbness that Beck was feeling in his right hand was diagnosed as being caused by an aneurysm in his right upper arm that required a delicate procedure to repair.
Beck made it sound simple.
"They cut it out, stitched it back together, a little mesh, good to go,” Beck said.
The recovery process was not particularly difficult -- merely annoying -- because Beck was unable to exercise for three months to allow for healing.
"The way the scar was, it was a no-sweat protocol for three months,” Beck said. “That will set you back quite a bit physically. I felt really good after the surgery last year, but you have to let things heal. It's pretty serious when you talk about vascular stuff and internal bleeding. Just had to trust the doc.”
Trust he did. Beck returned to the mound at Triple-A Sacramento in August and was back in the Majors for the Giants' stretch drive in September. He pitched to a 1.69 ERA in 16 innings that month, going four innings in his lone start against St. Louis on Sept. 28. The stay down the stretch helped convince Beck the injury was gone.
“Any time the lights go on and you are playing another team, the adrenaline kicks up,” he said.
“Specifically, making a relief appearance in the big leagues is a different type of adrenaline. You’re facing the best of the best, leverage situations. Down the stretch we were really into every single game. Just being able to get through it and check the box in the first couple and feel healthy. Knowing that nothing was wrong, I could get back to my normal work.”
Beck's start Wednesday was his fourth appearance of the spring but his first start, and it seemed to bolster his chances for a spot on the Opening Day roster. Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Justin Verlander and Jordan Hicks have the first four rotation spots locked down, but a fifth starter has not been determined, and several bullpen spots appear available.
"We have a lot of really good arms. He’s one of them,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said, adding of a possible role, “maybe more long relief than starting right now with the guys we have a little bit ahead of him.”
Beck mixed four pitches with an emphasis on his slider/four-seam fastball combination before leaving after 41 offerings with two outs in the third inning. He struck out three of the final four batters he faced -- on a slider, a four-seam fastball and a sweeper. He threw 15 sliders and 13 four-seamers, and just one of his five sweepers was put into play.
“I’m going to be breaking-ball heavy,” said Beck, whose fastball averaged 93.8 mph. He added that he relied on the slider because the Guardians weren't putting great swings on it. "I’m pretty comfortable not having to throw my fastball a ton, and this was just one of those days.”
He sees the work this spring as good preparation for the regular season, where he has been used mostly in relief in his two seasons. He was 3-3 with a 3.92 ERA in 2023, making 30 appearances out of the bullpen after being recalled for the first time when Alex Wood was placed on the injured list in April.
"I’ve done a little bit of everything in the short time I’ve been up with the team. It’s really not anything new,” Beck said.
"It’s kind of nice getting to do a few different roles, just because that’s how it’s been while I’ve been up in the big leagues," Beck added. "It’s nice getting the variety in Spring Training, because I know that’s something that is probably going to happen as the year goes.”