TEMPE, Ariz. -- Rockies outfielder
“I have not heard yet,” said Beck, who was drafted from Tennessee 38th overall in 2022 and blew through the Minor Leagues before having an injury-affected rookie season in 2024. “I’d actually like to know. That pitcher \\[Angels non-roster righty George Klassen\\] was slinging it up there pretty good, so I was happy about it.”\n\n• Ready for a bounceback season, Sean Bouchard goes 4-for-4 on Monday\n\nBefore Monday, Beck’s Spring Training was heavy on calculations but light on results.
His 1-for-14 start through his first six Cactus League games included luckless line drives. A couple of slump-breaking hits on Saturday against the Diamondbacks and the first of his three hits Monday -- a looping double -- weren’t the hardest-hit balls.\n\n“They say that it evens out,” Beck said. “I don’t know if hard-hit balls equal soft ones, or whatever that translation seems to be. But I’ll keep swinging it.\n\n“It helps to keep building days, stacking days together. The games -- I won’t say don’t matter -- but this is also when we’re finding out timing, our stride and seeing how the offseason stuff is translating to games.”
And now one more question arises: Can Beck approach the prime production of Charlie Blackmon, who had a storied Rockies career before retiring at the end of last season?\n\n“I definitely believe I can do those things, but I’m not out here trying to be Charlie,” Beck said. “I want to represent the game and the Rockies the way he did, but at the same time we’re different players with different skills. I’m going to play my game and do me the best I can.”
**LAWRENCE CLAIMED BY PIRATES**\n\nThe Pirates claimed right-handed reliever
**DANCING WITH A NEW PARTNER**\n\nRight-hander
**HURLERS TO WATCH**\n\nRighty