Beeks could have key role as bullpen's most seasoned lefty

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Rockies have always liked difficult-to-detect, jerky motion from a left-handed reliever. Plug in Jalen Beeks.

Last year, Brent Suter filled that role with distinction, with a 3.38 ERA in 57 games while holding and holding opponents to the second-lowest average exit velocity (84 mph) and third-lowest hard-hit rate (26.3 percent) in MLB, per Statcast.

The Rockies knew that re-signing Suter after such a year would be a challenge, so they claimed Beeks off waivers from the Rays even before Suter took a contract with the Reds that could earn him up to $6.2 million over two years, including a club option and performance bonuses.

During Monday afternoon’s 9-4 loss to the Dodgers, Beeks made his Rockies Spring Training debut, a scoreless fourth inning with a walk on a close pitch to Mookie Betts.

Beeks, 30, posted standout numbers in 2022 (2.80 ERA, 70 strikeouts to 22 walks in 61 innings) but saw elevated numbers last year (5.95 ERA in 42 1/3 innings). Monday’s performance gave him good feedback on tweaks he has made based on suggestions from Rockies coaches.

“We’ve worked a little bit on foot placement -- I was over-turning, and we fixed that with my back foot and drive leg,” Beeks said. “Even today, I was a little off, pulling that ball while walking Mookie, but I felt really good and behind the ball, and we made that adjustment just two days ago. By the end of the week, I’m going to be feeling really confident.”

Beeks, who avoided arbitration with a one-year deal worth $1.675 million, enters 2024 by far the Rockies’ most experienced lefty. Lucas Gilbreath will start the season late as he completes his comeback from a Tommy John surgery last March. Evan Justice, who debuted last season after just 41 Minor League appearances, is trying to make the club. Justice allowed one hit in a scoreless inning Monday.

Beeks can be a beacon if he holds his strengths -- a fastball at the top of the zone that can beat righties inside, and a changeup down and arm side. A project is adding depth to his slider, which can be a strikeout pitch, although he feels he’s “never really had a good slider.”

Manager Bud Black said, “He comes from a team that's pitched well over the last couple of years. I like the fastball. I like to change. He's capable against both left and right-handed hitters. So he'll be an integral part of our bullpen.”

The Rockies’ bullpen posted a Majors-worst 5.41 ERA during last year’s 59-103 campaign. The first half was solid, but the second half saw the unsure stages of making Justin Lawrence the closer, plus a parade of hard throwers who bounced between the Majors and Triple-A. Beeks believes the Rockies could be at the beginning of something special.

“Everybody is throwing 98,” Beeks said. “I’m feeling old now. But these guys have really good stuff, I haven’t seen them in games a whole lot. But everything I am seeing in [live batting practice] and bullpens, I don’t know why people aren’t talking about our bullpen more.”

Notes

• A lineup featuring many regulars clicked in the third and fourth, with home runs from Kris Bryant and Elias Díaz and a hard, up-the-middle single from Brendan Rodgers in between.

• Bryant crushed a couple of balls foul to left in his first spring outing, and the homer off Nabil Crismatt was a pull shot. Black said he likes how hard Bryant is hitting, but there should be more sharpness later.

“He’s an all-field hitter,” Black said. “I like it best when he’s hitting the ball to the off gap, but he’s capable of pulling the ball with power.”

• Righty reliever Jaden Hill, who eclipsed 99 mph during his first Spring Training outing, came back two days later with a scoreless inning (two strikeouts, one walk). As part of the conversion from starter to reliever, Hill has to show his arm can bounce back. His His velocity was slightly lower, but touching 97 mph, going to the slider for a strikeout of Miguel Vargas and throwing a couple changeups proved good enough.

“Velocity might have come down a mile or two but it’s still February,” Black said of Hill, who last year struggled as a starter (9.48 ERA in 16 starts), but showed plus stuff in his first full season after Tommy John surgery at LSU in 2021. “I like how it’s coming out.”