HOUSTON -- The wait finally ended for Dylan Beavers on Friday night, when Triple-A Norfolk manager Tim Federowicz gathered his team inside of the visitors’ clubhouse at VyStar Ballpark in Jacksonville.
“Real quick, got a lot of questions about this the last couple of weeks, so I’m just going to answer in front of everybody,” Federowicz said. “Dylan Beavers, you’re going to The Show.”
Beavers, the Orioles’ No. 3 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) whose contract was selected ahead of Saturday’s game vs. the Astros, soaked in the moment, then prepared to travel to Houston for his big league debut. For weeks, the 24-year-old outfielder had started to think of the possibility.
On Saturday, Beavers started in right field and batted sixth for Baltimore in his first MLB game. He went 1-for-5 in Baltimore’s 5-4, 12-inning loss, knocking a leadoff double in the ninth for his first big league hit.
“It’s super exciting. It’s what I’ve kind of been working for my entire life,” Beavers said shortly after he arrived at Daikin Park. “But there’s nerves, too, kind of uncertainty in not knowing when it’s going to happen. A little bit of a mixed bag of emotions, but yeah, exciting.”
After everything felt “sped up” early in the day, Beavers was much more calm afterward.
“Once I saw a couple pitches, I started to feel a little better in there, more confident,” Beavers said. “It was everything that I expected. Gets loud in there, too, being indoors. So it was a great atmosphere. I would have loved to get the win, but good debut.”
Beavers -- who planned to give the ball from his first hit to his dad, Scott, one of his many family members who were in attendance -- earned the promotion with his remarkable play at Triple-A this season, as the 2022 Competitive Balance Round A Draft pick had been knocking on the door quite loudly in recent weeks.
In 94 games for Norfolk this season, Beavers slashed .304/.420/.515 with 14 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 51 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. It was an impressive showing after the San Luis Obispo, Calif., native reached Triple-A for the first time in 2024, playing only six games late last year.
From July 27-Aug. 15, Beavers batted .317 (19-for-60) with two doubles, five homers and 10 RBIs, with a 1.053 OPS.
In today’s game, batting average isn’t valued as highly as it once was, because of more advanced stats and analytics. But Beavers’ number has been hard to ignore.
“The old grandpa in me likes the batting average. I know I’m not supposed to say that, but batting average is indicative of contact and contact quality, so I think it kind of paints that picture,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “There’s a need here, there’s no doubt, and he is a good prospect. But that’s not why he’s here.
“He’s here because he played really good in Triple-A and he’s had a very nice run in the Minor Leagues the last few years, and he’s knocked the door down and he’s earned it.”
According to Mansolino, Beavers is “here to play.” There’s certainly time available, especially after Greg Allen was designated for assignment as Saturday’s corresponding move.
Colton Cowser (concussion protocol) is expected to be reinstated from the injured list for Sunday’s finale in Houston. But Mansolino said Cowser will likely play center field now that Beavers -- who can play all three spots but is most comfortable in the corners -- has arrived.
Tyler O’Neill (right wrist inflammation) is currently on the IL, so the O’s had often been playing infielder Jeremiah Jackson in right field and Dylan Carlson (who is starting to heat up after a prolonged slump) in left. They also have Daniel Johnson -- a journeyman claimed off waivers from the Giants on Monday -- and backup first baseman Ryan Noda, who can play the corners.
So the left-handed-hitting Beavers should get an extended run, especially with the Orioles (56-67) already looking toward the 2026 season and hoping to get some youngsters time in the Majors down the stretch. He’s ready to try to seize a role for the future.
“I think it’s an awesome opportunity,” Beavers said. “I can’t say I really expected it to look like this in spring. But I just wanted to stay ready, and that’s kind of what I’ve been trying to do all season, is be ready for whenever I get an opportunity. So yeah, I definitely want to maximize this shot that I have up here.”
Plenty of players on the Orioles’ roster have watched Beavers, whether it was during Spring Training or in the Minors. They’re confident in what the youngster could bring to the team.
Perhaps none more so than Jackson Holliday, a fellow member of Baltimore’s 2022 Draft class (first-rounder) who is close friends with Beavers and is ready to play alongside him again.
“I was definitely looking forward to the day that he gets called up, and he's done everything that he can to earn his way to the big leagues. He's had a great year,” Holliday said. “Couldn’t be happier for him, and very excited to finish out the year with him and watch him do his thing.”