WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

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.