Chad Beck

CHAD BECK
RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: January 17, 1985
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 255
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 14th round, 417th overall, 2006 (Diamondbacks)
How Acquired: Waiver Claim (from Blue Jays)
College: University of Louisiana (Lafayette)
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

The Pirates claimed Beck off waivers from Toronto.  He’s made his way slowly through the minors.  He’s generally been a swing man, until he served as a closer in 2012.  That’s usually an indication that a team regards a pitcher as a marginal prospect at best.  Beck throws hard, around 93-94, with a slider and a splitter or cutter.  He’s had unimpressive to poor K rates throughout most of his career.  He’s mostly been a flyball pitcher.

2006
A-:  1-5-0, 6.25 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 40.1 IP, 4.0 BB/9, 10.0 K/9

Beck struggled in his debut in short-season ball.

2007
A:  1-2-1, 4.33 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 52.0 IP, 3.5 BB/9, 8.3 K/9

The Diamondbacks moved Beck to the bullpen in low A and he improved across the board, although he didn’t have a strong season.

2008
A:  2-0-0, 2.04 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 17.2 IP, 1.5 BB/9, 9.7 K/9
A+:  6-5-1, 3.98 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 95.0 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 8.4 K/9 

After pitching briefly in relief in low A, Beck moved up to the California League and started 15 of his 25 appearances.  He pitched well, especially considering the high-offense environment in that league.  His peripheral numbers were much better than his ERA.  Arizona traded him to Toronto after the season.

2009
A:  6-8-0, 5.94 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 110.2 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 6.9 K/9
A+:  0-0-0, 4.35 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 10.1 IP, 5.2 BB/9, 12.2 K/9

For some reason, the Jays sent Beck back to low A for most of the season and he struggled there for 20 starts.  His control was good but his K rate dropped and opponents hit .292 against him.

2010
A+:  3-6-0, 3.72 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 101.2 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 7.0 K/9

Beck spent the season in high A, making 11 starts and otherwise pitching in relief.  He pitched much better, although his K rate was just OK.

2011
A+:  0-0-0, 1.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 5.1 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 11.8 K/9
AA:  7-4-0, 3.69 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 95.0 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 6.6 K/9
AAA:  2-4-0, 6.70 ERA, 2.09 WHIP, 41.2 IP, 5.6 BB/9, 5.0 K/9
MLB: 0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.43 WHIP, 2.1 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 11.6 K/9

Beck made his way through four levels, although he spent the bulk of the season in AA, making 14 starts out of 22 games.  He was effective there but had a low K rate.  He started eight games in AAA and struggled, giving up a .332 opponents’ average and walking more than he struck out.  Toronto brought him up in mid-September and he made three brief appearances.

2012
AAA:  2-0-18, 1.31 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 48.0 IP, 2.4 BB/9, 4.5 K/9
MLB:  0-0-0, 6.32 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 15.2 IP, 2.9 BB/9, 5.2 K/9

Beck spent most of the season as a closer in AAA.  He also got brief callups in June and July, as well as a September callup.  He was very effective in AAA, but had an extremely low K rate.  He got hit hard in the majors.

This isn’t an easy acquisition to understand.  The Pirates already have several pitchers who are very similar to Beck, most notably Mike Colla and Brandon Cumpton.  There’s nothing in Beck’s background to indicate that he’s more than AAA depth.  Not surprisingly, the team designated Beck for assignment to clear space after the Joel Hanrahan trade with Boston.

STATS
Baseball Reference–Majors
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MLB.com
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2013: Major league minimum
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2006
MLB Debut: 9/13/2011
MiLB FA Eligible: N/A
MLB FA Eligible: 2018
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Added to 40-Man: 9/6/11
Options Remaining: 2 (USED:  2012)
MLB Service Time: 0.072
TRANSACTIONS
June 7, 2004: Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 43rd round, 1285th overall pick.
June 6, 2006: Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 14th round, 417th overall pick; signed on June 14.
August 31, 2008: 
Traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Toronto Blue Jays for David Eckstein.
September 6, 2011: Contract purchased by the Toronto Blue Jays.
October 22, 2012: Designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays.
October 25, 2012: Claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
December 26, 2012: Designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates.