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The Red Sox have made another promotion in the minors, with left-handed pitcher Jalen Beeks getting the call from Double-A Portland up to Triple-A Pawtucket.
#PawSox add RHP Jalen Beeks from Portland. He was 5-1 with a 2.19 ERA in 9 starts and led the Eastern League with 58 strikeouts in 49 IP.
— PawSox (@PawSox) June 3, 2017
Beeks is a lefty, despite the PawSox tweet saying otherwise.
A former 12th round pick in 2014, the 23-year-old southpaw has been electric in his second go-around in Portland. He’s tossed 49 1⁄3 innings over nine starts with the SeaDogs and has put up fantastic results in that time. He has 58 strikeouts to 22 walks while posting a 2.19 ERA.
For as great as the results have been, there are still questions about Beeks’ future in the majors. Given the stuff and the results he’s posted in the minors, there’s a good chance at a major-league future. The question is whether it will come out of the bullpen or in the rotation. He’s on the smaller side in terms of stature and has a little too much noise in his delivery — although he’s appeared to simplify things this season — which could combine to shorter stints being in his future. However, he’s had too much success as a starter to remove him from that role at this point. If he can continue pitching like this with Pawtucket, you can bet the Red Sox will give him a chance to start in the majors. Only when he proves he can’t do it will he be moved over to a relief role.