The Braves went high school arm and then college bat with their first two choices in the 2018 MLB draft. So they went with a more seasoned arm with their next pick.
Tristan Beck, a right-hander from Stanford, became the Braves’ fourth round selection, No. 112 overall.
It’s the third time Beck’s been drafted. He didn’t sign with the Brewers out of high school, and passed on the Yankees last year.
He missed the 2017 season due to a back injury. He leaped from 29th round to the fourth round with a healthy 2018.
Beck, who’s 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, possesses a four-pitch arsenal that includes a curveball, change-up and slider. His velocity sits in the low 90s.
The soon-to-be 22-year-old owns a 2.99 ERA over 84 innings. He’s struck out 66 and walked 29. Those numbers are a decline from his pre-injury freshman season, when he earned a 2.48 ERA with 76 strikeouts and 26 walks in one less inning.
Beck’s strikeouts per nine dropped from 8.21 to 7.04. But the Braves have long been fond of Beck, and it’s reasonable to believe the further he gets from his injury, the more he could improve.
While the franchise often opts for prep arms earlier in the draft, Beck could ascend quickly if healthy. He joins last year’s first round pick Kyle Wright as a recently drafted college arm worth watching in the system.
The Braves had to wait a little longer to make their first choice Tuesday, as the franchise had forfeited its third round pick. That had no influence on the team’s decision-making, according to scouting director Brian Bridges.
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