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Born: Tuttle, Oklahoma
Age: 19 (6/14/00)
Height/Weight: 6’9”/200 lbs.
Position: RHP
Bats/Throws: R/R
School: Blanchard High School (Blanchard, Oklahoma)
The son of Lynn Beck, a standout receiver at Oklahoma State, Jace Beck did not inherit his father’s football skills, but he did inherit his genetics. Jace excelled on the gridiron like his father, but he also took to baseball. After first learning to pitch in the seventh grade, Jace continued playing through high school. He was particularly impressive in his junior year, when he went 9-2 for the Tuttle Tigers, posting a 1.47 ERA in 70 innings with 20 walks and 90 strikeouts. In the middle of his senior year, he moved, and transferred schools, going from Tuttle High School to their rival, Blanchard High School. Though he wore a different uniform, going from the Tuttle Tigers to the Blanchard Lions, Beck continued to be dominant on the mound. The entire team was, in fact, going 39-0 for the year. Beck himself went a perfect 13-0, posting a 0.99 ERA in 70.2 innings, striking out 134.
At 6’9”, Jace Beck is extremely tall. As a pitcher, this gives him advantages and disadvantages. Being tall helps, as his long wingspan means the ball has less distance to travel, making it creep up on hitters faster. Being tall is a disadvantage in that, generally speaking, taller pitchers have problems repeating their deliveries, causing them to lose their release point, and as a result, their control.
Beck’s fastball sits in the high-80s-to-low-90s, topping out 92 MPH. The pitch increased in velocity as Jace grew, so it is unlikely that he add more velocity based on his strength and size. There is a chance that he is able to add velocity as he refines and improves his mechanics. In addition to his fastball, Beck throws a low-70s curveball and a mid-to-high-70s changeup.
Beck has a commitment to Cowley County Community College.