In his MLB Insider, Denver Gazette beat writer Luke Zahlmann takes you around the Rockies and MLB:

Jalen Beeks doesn’t have much time outside of games to work on pitches, but a third could turn him into a lefty mainstay in the majors.

After being designated for assignment, the Rockies reliever was brought in from Tampa Bay off waivers. In his first 14 appearances with Colorado, the southpaw has a 2.81 earned run average and is looking to be even better.

He spends time during pregame throwing sessions working on grips. If a game situation calls for it, he’ll dial up a rare third pitch — getting a feel for the grip and movement is a work in progress. It’s work he doesn’t have time to do outside of spring training.

But it’s the barrier to another level for Beeks.

“I’ve been trying to find something that would work as a third pitch,” Beeks said. “I’ve tested the curveball. I’ve thought about trying a cutter. I’m always looking for that third pitch to take me to the next level.”

Beeks busted out a curveball semi-regularly at Prairie Grove (Ark.) High School and tried out a slider with Tampa Bay that never had the success he wanted.

Colorado wants a curveball to pair with Beeks’ four-seam fastball and changeup. When he was brought in, the organization told him they wanted to embrace his strengths, just like his previous home in Tampa Bay. The latter has produced several top-flight arms embracing pitcher’s strengths instead of trying to alter them.

The Rockies are going with a two-prong approach and wanted spring training to be the breeding ground for Beeks’ new arsenal. Grip was an issue in Scottsdale, Ariz., and forced him away from building the pitch up. In 2024, he has thrown 28 cutters, 10 sliders and nine curveballs per Statcast.

Mechanics have also been part of his issue for developing a curveball and the other pitches he has tried.

When he has tried out breaking balls, the motion has been altered. It hurts his command and allows opponents to pick up small keys about what pitch is coming, and they hone in on the tips to take advantage.

Pitchers work on grips during pregame warm-ups, and Beeks is no different. Curveballs have a different grip than the cutter-slider combo, but his efforts are in hopes that one shines through.

His fastball and changeup are working, so Colorado doesn’t have complaints. It’s an organization that knows he can be dominant though, and a breaking ball is key.

“His best stuff is fastball-changeup. Last year he tried to throw a slider,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “When he came over, he told us he was trying a curveball a lot with Boston. We want to get it back in the mix.”

What I’m hearing

— Beeks is going through the same problem experienced by many pitchers.

The Athletic recently surveyed some of the league’s best pitchers about what pitch has given them fits. Former Grandview standout Kevin Gausman admitted he has problems with adding a curveball too.

Dylan Cease’s may be the most interesting. He reportedly spent the offseason working with Gausman on a splitter — a pitch with an increased presence in baseball in recent years that has been a staple of Asian pitching practices for decades.

“Splitters are undoubtedly nasty,” Cease told The Athletic. “I didn’t figure it out, so I banged it.”

Without it, he sports a 2.55 earned run average since joining the Padres in 2024. He held the Rockies to one earned run over seven innings April 22 at Coors Field.

— Monte Harrison will be a sports trivia go-to one day.

The outfielder will return to play college football for Arkansas four years after his major league debut. It comes a decade after he was a second-round pick by the Brewers in the 2014 draft. Harrison was a four-star recruit as a receiver and originally committed to Nebraska but had offers from Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan State and Arkansas among others before being drafted. 

He was notably traded to Miami four years later as part of the club’s Christian Yelich deal in 2018. 

He hit .176 across 68 at-bats in the majors. He was once a top-100 prospect and played in the 2019 Futures Game but will use his college eligibility to re-enter football at 28.

What I’m seeing

— Jordan Beck has played in all six games since he was called up, and the Rockies’ newest outfielder is learning the same way as his predecessors: trial by fire.

Through 21 at-bats entering Wednesday’s homestand opener, he has hit .143 and struck out 11 times in 21 at-bats. Each of his three hits came against Miami, and two came in his debut to open May.

He’ll get the chance to debut in front of the home fans now. It could be the boost he needs.

“To get to play in front of our fans, I think it will be good for Jordan,” Black said Wednesday. “The pitching is different (in the majors), and he’s learning it. He came into Miami, he was loose (and) took some really good swings.

“Then it’s natural for a little pressure to build up if you don’t get a couple of hits, and you start to think a bit.”

Minor League Minute

— Braiden Ward already has a Northwest League player of the week nod on his 2024 résumé from April, and he added a little history to it last week.

The High-A Spokane outfielder swiped six bases on Saturday and became the fifth player in pro baseball history to do so. He was the first, though, to steal home in the effort.

A pitch hit Ward to start the first inning, and the leadoff hitter made Fresno pay for it. He stole second and third before a straight steal of home put the Indians ahead early. They were part of his Northwest League-leading 15 steals. His .339 average has provided ample opportunity.

Eric Young Sr. had a six-steal game for the Rockies in 1996 but had another player for the organization join his elusive club.

— Drew Romo’s defense is an aspect Colorado still wants to see improvement, but his bat is proving to be more major-league-ready by the day in Triple-A Albuquerque.

The switch-hitting catcher has hit a team-best .371 in his first 24 games for the Isotopes in 2024. It’s also the organization’s top mark, and his recently ended 18-game hit streak is tied for the longest in the minors this year.

Romo has 10 doubles, a triple and a home run as part of his 36 hits, and is still waiting for his power to translate to a higher level — he hit 13 home runs with Double-A Hartford last year.

Getting on base hasn’t been a problem, and his improving defense is the next key. Both coming together could make him a Coors Field mainstay before too long.

The List

Top curveball whiff percentages in MLB (according to Statcast)

1. Nick Lodolo (CIN) – 51.5

2. Tyler Glasnow (LAD) – 51.1

3. Zac Gallen (ARI) – 47.3

4. Alex Lange (DET) – 46.5

5. Jack Flaherty (DET) – 45