Orioles draft pick Jared Beck has a chance to be the tallest player in Major League Baseball history.
The 7-foot Iowa native recently completed his senior year at Saint Leo University (Fla.). The 22-year-old left-hander posted a 3.95 ERA in 68.1 innings during the 2022 season, striking 105 batters and walking 31.
What are the Orioles getting in Beck?
“A competitor. They’re getting a guy that can be there every day, that cares, and grinds my butt off,” Beck said on Glenn Clark Radio July 21. “I’m going to try as hard as I can to get to the bigs — that’s my goal.”
Picked in the 13th round (No. 377 overall) by the Orioles in the 2022 MLB Draft, Beck officially signed with the Orioles July 26. He will be one of the tallest players to ever play professionally once he gets in a game. Dutch pitcher Loek van Mil, who stood at 7-foot-1, pitched in the minors from 2006-2016 and later overseas. He is believed to be the tallest person to ever play professionally.
The chance to be tallest player in the history of big leagues is a lot of pressure on a young athlete, though Beck has made it clear that “there is still so much room to grow.” Beck is aware that he is still growing into his frame in general as well as on the pitcher’s mound.
“It’s an honor and I’m blessed to have even reached this point,” Beck said. “I know it’s just the start nowadays. I’m ready just to grind it out. I believe that I can get to where I want to go and I’m ready to do it. I think the Orioles will help me a lot with that.”
Beck’s idol is 6-foot-10 Randy Johnson, who pitched in the majors from 1988-2009. Beck is motivated to use his height as an advantage in baseball, whereas others may view it as a challenge. Former big league reliever Jon Rauch (2002-2013) and current Giants minor leaguer Sean Hjelle — both 6-foot-11 — can serve as examples for Beck as well.
The lefty Beck has been tall ever since a growth spurt in middle school. He grew nearly 11 inches in two years and towered over classmates. Beck chose to go the baseball route instead of pursing basketball. He found out as a high school hitter that baseball would be a little bit different for him than everyone else.
“There was a pretty low ball and [the umpire] was like, ‘Oh man, that would’ve been a strike for everyone, but that’s a ball for you since you’re so tall,'” Beck recalled.
Having put the bat down during his collegiate career, he now has more time to focus on the mound. Beck hopes to develop as a pitcher with the Orioles.
“This year I was sitting around the 89, 91, 92 area — touching some threes and fours,” Beck said. “With what I’ve got now, my base that I’ve made for myself and with the others that help me around me, I think there’s still so much room to grow.”
Beck did touch 95 mph once during the 2022 season and is looking to throw even harder with the Orioles’ help.
“I think I can be maybe scraping some hundreds once in a while,” he said.
Last summer, Beck was a middle reliever for the Savannah Bananas of the collegiate wood-bat Coastal Plain League. He assisted the team in winning the league championship in 2021 and put on a show for the fans, too.
“[The Bananas] do a really good job with splitting it up. You’ll be entertaining the fans when you’re not playing, but when you’re on the field it’s go time,” Beck said. “We flip that switch. It’s time to get after it and shut it down as a pitcher. It’s time to put all the runs up on them as a hitter. … When I step onto the mound it’s go time, it’s time to dominate.”
For more from Beck, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Savannah Bananas