SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- A crowd gathered on the back field at Scottsdale Stadium on Saturday morning as Carlos Rodon threw his first simulated innings since signing with the Giants. But the most important outing of the day came six miles up the road.
Tyler Beede started for the Giants at Salt River Fields, kicking off the former first-rounder's bid to make the Opening Day roster. Beede's 42 pitches against the Colorado Rockies produced mixed results. He gave up a leadoff homer and allowed five hits in two innings, but he did show that Tommy John surgery is completely in the rearview mirror, sitting at 95 mph and topping out at 97 while getting six swinging strikes.
Beede's 2021 season was a struggle, but he came to camp in an interesting spot. On the surface, the Giants have a full rotation and bullpen. They also, however, have 19 games in the first 20 days of the season and expect to have an expanded roster. Beede, who is out of minor league options, could make the Opening Day roster in a bulk innings role.
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SIGN UP HERE After Saturday's outing, Beede wasn't thinking about the race for the roster. He was simply happy with the opportunity.
"I'm thankful for where I'm at. To be healthy and to be back on the mound and be competing, and to have a shot at making the team, I'm very, very grateful for that," Beede said. "That's just my perspective in general after going through hard times."
It has been two years since Beede came to camp looking like a lock to be in the rotation. He had hit his stride late in the 2019 season and was sitting in the upper 90s in late February of 2020, but his elbow flared up and Tommy John surgery ended his dreams long before the shortened season started.
Beede returned last summer but struggled with his command in Triple-A. He threw just one inning for the 107-win team, and as Beede and the Giants evaluated a rollercoaster return from rehab, they decided to alter the game plan.
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The front office and coaches throw as much information as possible at players, but the plan for Beede this spring is to simply trust his stuff.
"Tyler's approach is simpler this year than it has been in years past," manager Gabe Kapler said. "We've backed off the concept of delivery tweaks and changes. We've focused solely on health and attacking the strike zone with all of his offerings. So far, so good. We're not going to make big plans about how this season is going to go for Tyler, we're just going to take it one step at a time, and so far he's made good strides in that direction of simplifying his approach and his plan."
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Beede is sticking to what has worked for him in the past. He mostly relied on the hard four-seamer on Saturday, mixing in a changeup and curveball in equal doses. He said the Giants can expand and tweak later on, but for now, with just three weeks until Opening Day, he's keeping it simple.
"I think it's really a game plan that's come from both sides. I'm 28, I've been up there, I know what it takes for me to be successful and they know what it takes for me to be successful," he said. I think we're all on the same page of a simplified approach, just me going out there and attacking the zone with my pitches. That's going to do the job for me, and then we can add on from there.
"It's not like I can't implement analytical data, but I think where I'm at right now, it's just continuing to build on feeling healthy and preparing the way I've been preparing this offseason. Keep it simple from there."