The battle to secure a spot on the Chicago Cubs' opening day pitching roster was nothing short of intense this year, leaving several notable names on the outside looking in.
Among those was right-handed pitcher Tyler Beede, a familiar face in baseball circles. Once a first-round draft pick for the San Francisco Giants, Beede has appeared in 71 major league games.
However, his performance in the Grapefruit League this spring didn’t quite make the grade. After seven challenging outings, it became apparent that Beede wouldn't be suiting up when the Cubs face the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field this Thursday.
The decision to release Beede on Monday was not unexpected, as noted in the official transactions log. Whether it was Beede opting out of a potential Triple-A assignment or the Cubs deciding there wasn’t a future for him within the organization remains a question.
During his 3 2/3 innings in spring training, Beede allowed three earned runs on five hits, with four walks and two strikeouts. While this is a small sample size, it’s clear that his recent struggles at the major league level didn’t position him well to compete for a spot in what is considered one of the National League's most competitive bullpens.
Interestingly, Beede was a two-time first-round selection. The Toronto Blue Jays initially picked him 21st overall in 2011, but he chose to hone his skills at Vanderbilt. Since being selected 14th by the Giants over a decade ago, Beede has pitched across four organizations, including stints with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Guardians, and Minnesota Twins.
His journey also took him overseas, pitching in Japan in 2023 and Mexico last season. As baseball seasons kick off globally, Beede might once again explore international opportunities.