Jalen Beeks

Jalen Christopher Beeks (born July 10, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. Boston selected Beeks in the 12th round of the 2014 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut for them in 2018.

Amateur career
Beeks attended Prairie Grove High School in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. He played for the school's baseball team and graduated in 2011. He enrolled at Crowder College, and transferred to the University of Arkansas, where he played college baseball for the Arkansas Razorbacks. A reliable reliever during the 2013 season, Beeks allowed the game-tying and go-ahead runs on consecutive wild pitches during an intentional walk in the 7th inning against the Kansas State Wildcats in the Manhattan Regional. The Razorbacks were eliminated from the postseason following the 4–3 loss.

After the 2013 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and was named a league all-star. Beeks returned to Arkansas for the 2014 season as the opening day starter, starting 13 games with a 6–4 record and 1.98 earned run average (ERA).

Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox selected Beeks in the 12th round of the 2014 MLB draft. He signed and made his debut that same year for the GCL Red Sox, pitching five scoreless innings. In 2015, he pitched for the Greenville Drive of the Single–A South Atlantic League, where he had a 9–7 win–loss record with a 4.32 earned run average (ERA) in 26 starts, and in 2016, he pitched both for the Salem Red Sox of the High–A Carolina League and Portland Sea Dogs of the Double–A Eastern League, compiling a combined 9–8 record and 3.87 ERA in 26 starts.

In 2017, Beeks played for Portland and the Pawtucket Red Sox of the Triple–A International League. The Red Sox named him their Minor League Pitcher of the Year after he posted a combined 11–8 record, 3.29 ERA, and 1.21 WHIP in 26 games started between the two teams. The Red Sox added Beeks to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season. He began the 2018 season with Pawtucket.

Beeks was promoted to Boston's active roster on June 7, 2018, in order to make his MLB debut in a start against the Detroit Tigers. Beeks gave up five first-inning runs and took the loss; he was optioned back to Pawtucket the next day. Beeks was recalled to Boston on July 10; he pitched $2 1/3$ innings that day, allowing four hits and three runs, and was then returned to Triple-A.

Tampa Bay Rays
On July 25, 2018, the Red Sox traded Beeks to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-handed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi. With the Rays, Beeks made 12 appearances through the end of the season, compiling a 5–0 record with a 4.47 ERA and 37 strikeouts in $44 1/3$ innings.

Beeks began the 2019 season with Tampa Bay. He was optioned to the Triple-A Durham Bulls on June 28, and was recalled on July 16. He finished the season with a 6–3 record, 4.31 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 89 strikeouts over $104 1/3$ innings at the MLB level.

On August 25, 2020, Beeks tore his ulnar collateral ligament while pitching against the Baltimore Orioles, ending his season and requiring Tommy John surgery. On February 17, 2021, Beeks was placed on the 60-day injured list as he continued to recover from Tommy John surgery.

On March 22, 2022, Beeks signed a $750,000 contract with the Rays, avoiding salary arbitration. On June 4, Beeks, along with 4 other Rays teammates, opted out of wearing a Rays team logo and cap in support of LGBTQ+ Pride, during the team's annual Pride Night celebration at Tropicana Field. In 42 appearances for the club in 2022, he registered a 2.80 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 2 saves in 61.0 innings of work.

In 2023, Beeks made 30 appearances for the Rays, but struggled to a 5.95 ERA with 47 strikeouts across $42 1⁄3$ innings pitched. Following the season on November 4, Beeks was removed from the 40–man roster and placed on outright waivers.

Colorado Rockies
On November 6, 2023, Beeks was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies.

Personal
Beeks and his wife, Brie, have a son and two daughters. The family resides in Northwest Arkansas.