Jalen Beeks

Career

Beeks attended Prairie Grove High School in Prairie Grove, Arkansas, graduating in 2011. He then enrolled at Crowder College before transferring to the University of Arkansas, where he played college baseball for the Arkansas Razorbacks. During the 2013 season, he served as a reliable reliever; in a game against Kansas State in the Manhattan Regional, he allowed the game-tying and go-ahead runs on consecutive wild pitches during an intentional walk in the seventh inning, and the Razorbacks were eliminated from the postseason with a 4–3 loss.

After that season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star. Returning to Arkansas for 2014, he was the opening day starter and started 13 games, posting a 6–4 record with a 1.98 ERA. The Boston Red Sox selected him in the 12th round of the 2014 MLB draft, and he signed, making his professional debut that year for the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox with five scoreless innings.

Boston Red Sox

In 2015, he pitched for the Greenville Drive of the Single-A South Atlantic League, going 9–7 with a 4.32 ERA in 26 starts. The following year, he pitched for both the Salem Red Sox of the High-A Carolina League and the Portland Sea Dogs of the Double-A Eastern League, combining for a 9–8 record and 3.87 ERA in 26 starts. In 2017, he played for Portland and the Pawtucket Red Sox of the Triple-A International League, and 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 starts.

After the 2017 season, Boston added him to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He began 2018 with Pawtucket. Promoted to Boston's active roster on June 7, 2018, he made his MLB debut starting against the Detroit Tigers, giving up five first-inning runs and taking the loss; he was optioned back to Pawtucket the next day. Recalled on July 10, he pitched 2⅓ innings, allowing four hits and three runs, and was then returned to Triple-A. On July 25, 2018, the Red Sox traded Beeks to the Tampa Bay Rays for right-handed pitcher Nathan Eovaldi.

With the Rays, he made 12 appearances through the end of the season, compiling a 5–0 record with a 4.47 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 44⅓ innings.

Did You Know?

• Beeks tore his ulnar collateral ligament on August 25, 2020, while pitching against the Baltimore Orioles, ending his season and requiring Tommy John surgery.
• On June 4, 2022, Beeks and four other Rays teammates opted out of wearing the team logo and cap in support of LGBTQ+ Pride during the team's annual Pride Night at Tropicana Field.
• Beeks signed a one-year, $1.6 million contract with the Texas Rangers on March 13, 2026, but his season ended on July 4 due to a flexor tendon strain requiring surgery.