Guardians sign former SF Giants top prospect to minor-league deal

The Cleveland Guardians have signed former SF Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates righty Tyler Beede to a minor-league contract.

The Cleveland Guardians have signed right-handed pitcher Tyler Beede to a minor-league contract. The former SF Giants first-round pick and top prospect spent last season pitching in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants. Beede made 30 appearances at the highest level of the NPB, recording a 3.99 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 21 walks in 49.2 innings pitched. He last appeared in the major leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates back in 2022.

Pirates reliever Tyler Beede throws a pitch. (2022) / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Back in 2022, after the Pirates claimed Beede off waivers from San Francisco, Beede got off to a solid start. He had a 3.12 ERA this season across 40.1 innings pitched (23 appearances) by the end of July. However, his peripheral numbers suggested he had benefited from some good luck. Beede had issued nearly as many walks (17) as strikeouts (24) and was inducing swings and misses at one of the lowest rates of his career.

Hoping Beede's ability to limit damage could translate to longer outings, Pirates manager Derek Shelton moved him into the rotation. In five starts, Beede surrendered 16 earned runs on 21 hits and 10 walks in just 15 innings pitched. Opposing hitters posted a .318/.423/.546 triple-slash over that span and Beede was relegated back to the bullpen. After watching Beede continue to struggle in three relief appearances, the Pirates decided to move on. Rather than catching on with another team, Beede decided to sign with Yomiuri.

The Giants drafted Beede with the 21st overall pick in the draft back in 2011. A right-handed pitcher out of Vanderbilt, Beede had flashed an excellent arsenal of pitches but struggled with inconsistent command. The year prior, he had been selected in the first round by the Toronto Blue Jays but did not sign.

Upon turning pro, Beede moved away from a four-seam fastball towards a sinker that induced soft groundball contact and was easier for him to locate in the strike zone. In 2016, Beede had an excellent season with the Giants Double-A affiliate in Richmond, recording a 2.84 ERA in 147.1 innings pitched with 135 strikeouts. Beede's inconsistent command continued to show, issuing 53 walks, but his track record and effectiveness made him the consensus top prospect in the organization.

The following year, when Beede reached Triple-A, his strikeout rate dropped as he was forced into the zone by better hitters. Beede made marginal improvements over the next few years, eventually earning a spot in the Giants rotation in 2019.

He made 26 appearances (24 starts) for San Francisco in 2019 and recorded 113 strikeouts in 117 innings pitched. He walked 46 hitters, allowed 22 home runs, and finished the season with an ERA of 5.08, but seemed to make some big strides as the season came to a close. However, just as he seemed to be building positive momentum, Beede suffered a season-ending elbow injury in the spring of 2020.

Sidelined for the next season and a half, Beede struggled mightily upon his return in 2021. He made 16 starts with the Giants Triple-A affiliate, recording a 6.66 ERA in 48.2 innings pitched with 50 strikeouts and 45 walks. Without a recent track record of success, the Giants ultimately designated him for assignment early the following year.

Tyler Beede has struggled to live up to the lofty expectations that followed him early in his career. At the moments where he has seemed closest to turning a corner, his hopes have been dashed by injuries. After spending a year abroad, he will head to spring training with the Cleveland Guardians looking to finally find a consistent role with a big-league pitching staff.