Last year, Trey Beard pitched for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks after his freshman year at Florida Atlantic University, a season in which he posted a 5.51 ERA in 16 games, with opponents hitting .233 against him in 65 1/3 innings. With Hyannis, he allowed eight runs in 11 innings pitched to go with a 1.64 WHIP.
It was clear something had to change. Luckily for Beard, something changed.
In two starts for the Hawks this summer, Beard didn’t allow a single earned run. His 1.64 WHIP was knocked down to 0.75, tied for the third-best mark on the pitching staff. He’s allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out nine hitters, just over a 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He’s one of eight Hawks pitchers to have a perfect ERA through the team’s first eight games.
Harbor Hawks manager Mitch Karraker, who worked with Beard the last two years, has noticed the changes as well when he sees the southpaw pitching.
“I think the offspeed stuff has gotten a little bit better. It’s a bit sharper,” Karraker said. “Last year, he relied on the fastball command and swing and miss out of the zone with his offspeed pitches. Now, he’s throwing all three for strikes at any time. I think he’s gotten himself in a really good position moving forward for his future.”
Before arriving in Hyannis, Beard had a far better season in 2025 with FAU. His ERA dropped from 5.51 to 3.14 in 16 games, 15 of which were starts. He racked up 118 strikeouts and allowed just five home runs in 86 innings pitched. Opposing hitters managed just a .199 batting average against him.
Beard felt that, in his two starts with the Hawks, his offspeed pitches were working for him, sharing similar sentiments as Karraker.
“The curveball is really working for me, which is good,” Beard said. “I’ve been trying to work on that pitch all year. (The) changeup has always been my go-to. Still working on that slider, just gotta get that a little more consistent.”
Against the Cotuit Kettleers on Saturday, Beard allowed one unearned run on two hits, two walks and three strikeouts over four innings. It wasn’t quite as sharp as his first start of the season against the Harwich Mariners, but the Cotuit start ended in a Hyannis win, just as the Harwich start did.
“I do feel like the first outing I was a little cleaner,” Beard said after his start against Cotuit. “This outing felt good, a little location problems in that one inning. (Overall) felt good. I am happy with the two starts.”
Karraker talked about the comfort level he sees in Beard when he’s on the mound, which he believes helps make him as good a pitcher as he is.
“The thing with Trey is he can make a pitch when he has to,” Karraker said. “He threw a 3-2 breaking ball early (in the game) that was really impressive. He is very comfortable in what he can do and (can) throw any pitch at any time, which is why he is so good.”
Beard credited the work of the Hawks' coaching staff for helping him out with his arsenal for the last two summers, which has helped him succeed against Cape League competition and competition in the NCAA at FAU.
The improvements in Beard’s game have been noticed on the national stage as well. He has earned the chance to go to Cary, North Carolina, with Team USA to compete at the Collegiate National Team Training Camp, which starts June 29 and runs through the second week of July.
Because of this, Beard and the Harbor Hawks knew it would be a short stint for the lefty with the team, but Beard was happy to have a short time with the team to have some fun and pitch again before heading to North Carolina.
“Just competing out here, getting back on the mound,” Beard said. “It’s been a little bit (since I pitched), conference tournament was three or four weeks ago. Just coming back out here and competing with the best of the best, it was awesome.”
Pitchers routinely come and go throughout the summer in the Cape League, as innings limits can make a pitcher’s stay longer or shorter depending on their circumstances. While Beard had a short stint in Hyannis, he has been a big reason for the team’s early success, and he is looking forward to carrying over the good momentum in a Team USA uniform next week.
