Giants' Tyler Beede continues to open eyes during an impressive spring

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- A few seconds after the final pitch Thursday night, Tyler Beede emerged from the dugout, walked over behind the plate, and looked out into the seats at Scottsdale Stadium in search of someone specific. That was a change of pace. For most of the spring, all eyes have been on Beede. 

The 25-year-old right-hander was the talk of camp even before games started, lighting it up on back fields during live batting practice sessions. Beede carried that momentum into his first two appearances, and on Thursday a television audience back home got to see why the Giants are so excited about the former first-rounder's resurgence. 

Beede sat at 97 mph with his fastball while striking out three in three hitless innings against the A's. In three appearances this spring, he has given up just two hits in seven innings, with one run allowed, two walks and eight strikeouts. 

"He's just had a terrific spring," manager Bruce Bochy said. "It looks like he's on a mission to show he's put a lot of hard work in."

For Bochy, Farhan Zaidi and the rest of the staff, it's less about the numbers than it is about how Beede is getting there. He cut two pitches from his repertoire and has gone back to his roots, pumping high-velocity fastballs while also relying on a curveball and changeup. Beede went heavy with the fastball Thursday night against the A's. He threw 96 mph past Stephen Piscotty in his first inning and ended that frame by blowing 94 mph past Matt Olson on the inner half of the plate. 

Both players took awkward swings, and that's something Zaidi talked about at length a few hours before Beede took the mound. 

"It was interesting going back and watching some of his video from last year -- he was throwing 96-97 but wasn't getting the results that you would expect for someone with that kind of velocity," Zaidi said. "I just think right now he's kind of throwing his fastball with impact. Guys are getting late and uncomfortable swings as opposed to the comfortable 97. He's turned it into an uncomfortable 97.

"He's talked about getting more spin on his breaking ball and he's got a good changeup, but ultimately a guy with that kind of arm, you want to see him throw his fastball and be willing to challenge guys. I think the fastball impact for me has been the biggest thing. If he can do that, the rest of the package is going to come together really well."

Zaidi has entered the organization with fresh eyes, and that will be a boost for players like Beede, who have had some down times under the previous regime. He is inching his way up the depth chart, and behind the scenes, the Giants wouldn't be surprised if Beede works his way into the back of the rotation relatively quickly. 

[RELATED: Mike Krukow is 'pretty excited' about Beede]

He also could become an option out of the bullpen, and on Thursday he certainly had a bit of an Archie Bradley thing going on. For now, the Giants will let Beede get stretched out and see if he can keep the momentum going. 

"He's got the equipment," Bochy said. "This guy, it's his time. He's really taking advantage of this spring and showing that he's a different guy."

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