2017 MLB Draft Profile: Tristan Beck, RHP, Stanford University

We have more player profiles for you as the 2017 MLB Draft approaches, turning our attention back to the college pitching ranks with enigmatic right-hander Tristan Beck out of Stanford.

THE BASICS

Pitching high school ball in Corona, California, Beck was a favorite of scouts for the 2015 draft and a potential first round pick. He was also an excellent student with a firm commitment to Stanford, dropping him to the 34th round of the ‘15 draft where he was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers.

He didn’t sign, then came out with a strong freshman year in 2016, posting a 2.43 ERA in 83 innings with a 76/26 K/BB and just 60 hits allowed. A draft-eligible sohpmore for 2017, he was expected to be a first round pick five months ago but has missed the entire spring season with a lower back stress fracture.

STRENGTHS

Beck was born June 24th, 1996, a right-handed hitter and thrower, listed at 6-4, 190.

In 2016 Beck impressed scouts and opponents with a 90-94 MPH fastball and a full arsenal of secondaries including a plus (possibly double-plus) curveball, an above-average change-up, and a good-enough slider. He threw strikes with all four pitches and had little trouble against college competition, with mature mound presence and pitchability.

He repeated his delivery well and some scouts felt his fastball could still tick up a notch as he matures physically. Even if the fastball stays in the current range it plays up due to the contrast with his strong secondaries and his ability to locate to specific spots of the zone.

WEAKNESSES

The back injury has cost Beck the entire 2017 season, has kept scouts from seeing him competitively, and throws his draft status in doubt. At last report he hasn’t even thrown a bullpen session. The injury is not supposed to be a long-term detriment to his career, but right now scouts have no way of assessing his current abilities and must rely on what he did in 2016.

OVERALL PROJECTION

Who knows? There are rumors that Beck has a pre-draft deal with a team picking early but it is entirely possible that he could return to Stanford for his junior season.