Three years later, the Braves finally got their man.
Tristan Beck and his new team’s story is akin to a romance film’s storyline. The Braves fell in love with him, he got away, went through his own journey and eventually found his way back.
The Braves drafted the Stanford product in the fourth round (No. 112 overall) of the 2018 MLB draft. They celebrated their fourth-rounder about as much as their first- and second-round picks.
“It played out about as good as it could for the organization,” scouting director Brian Bridges said.
Beck was a first-round talent coming out of Corona, Calif., as a high schooler. Teams knew he was unlikely to sign given his unwavering commitment to Stanford.
The Braves targeted Beck with their second first-round pick, No. 28 overall, in 2015. They were prepared with a $2.75 million bonus to lure him.
But Beck’s heart was set on Stanford. The Braves opted for their second choice, Canadian righty Mike Soroka, who ranked just behind Beck.
“Now, looking back, I got both of them,” Bridges said. “It just took three years.”
Soroka, 20, ripped through the Braves system and made his major-league debut last month. He’s their top pitching prospect and already entrenched in the team’s rotation.
Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, the cliche goes.
Meanwhile, Beck missed the 2017 season with a back injury he sustained while lifting weights. The Braves were disappointed to hear what happened, as he already was firmly on their radar for the 2017 draft.
The Yankees took him in the 29th round after he missed the 2017 season, but he stayed in school. It marked the second time he was drafted, since the Brewers took a 35th-round flier on him out of high school.
He returned to pitch 84 innings, one more than he did in 2016, and post a 2.99 ERA with 66 strikeouts. His numbers declined from pre-injury form, including a drop in his strikeouts per nine innings and increase in his walks per game.
As he furthers himself from the injury, the Braves think he’ll work his way back into form. Baseball America had him as the No. 31 overall player in the class, and the Braves saw him as a first-rounder.
Beck, 21, would’ve been the team’s selection in the third round, but their pick was forfeited as punishment for MLB’s investigation into infractions committed by the previous front office.
The Braves’ medical staff fully vetted Beck. Bridges and his scouts monitored him all season, and they see no concern of impacting him in the future. Bridges also felt it was a positive that the injury didn’t occur playing baseball.
But was it fear of his back that dropped Beck to the Braves’ fourth rounder?
“Could have, possibly,” Bridges said. “But it’s not like it’s something that’s going to linger. We don’t see any lingering effects of it.”
Teams’ reluctance played into the Braves’ hand as they waited out the third round. They’d been on Beck for all these years. As long as his health checked out, they knew the kid in which they’d invest.
They anticipated Beck going in the back end of the first round. There wasn’t any hesitation wondering why he slipped. Their background homework was sound, and they jumped when he was on the board.
“It gives you a lot of confidence in the type of kid he is,” he said. “A) Stanford education, B) athlete, C) bulldog, the way he goes about his business. You know he’s smart and can understand a game plan. There’s a lot of comfort with him. In landing that kind of talent in the fourth round, we’re lucky to be in that situation.”
Given the Braves’ limited bonus pool, along with their coming penalties which will restrict them in the international market, landing players more talented than their draft slots is that much more essential, as is signing them.
Bridges said the think they nabbed three first-round talents in right-hander Carter Stewart, outfielder Greyson Jenista and Beck.
Beck is expected to be an expensive signing, which could’ve played an additional role in his drop. After all, he’s already turned away millions from the Braves before.
“Nope,” Bridges said of anticipating any signing issues. “We’re ready to go.”
So maybe the third time’s a charm for Beck; and the third year a charm for the Braves.
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