This story was excerpted from Jake Rill's Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
SARASOTA, Fla. -- For all of Spring Training, it has been widely assumed that Dylan Beavers will break camp with the Orioles and make the first Opening Day roster of his career. And for good reason.
Ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 69 overall prospect, Beavers impressed late last season when he got his first taste of the big leagues. He may have only hit .227, but he showed impressive discipline at the plate, leading to 26 walks in 137 plate appearances (a 19% rate) and a .375 on-base percentage. Beavers also had five doubles, one triple, four home runs and 14 RBIs.
Although the 24-year-old has had an inside track to a roster spot since the first day of camp in mid-February, Beavers hasn’t been treating it that way -- even if his first MLB stint has helped further prove to himself that he can be an everyday big league player.
“I know that I’m capable of it. It’s in there. But most of the time, people care what you’ve done for them lately,” Beavers said. “So I don’t think I’m ever going to feel comfortable and secure. I’ve got to keep going out and competing and showing that I can help the team win. But it definitely gives me a sense of, ‘I know I can do it when I’m playing my best baseball.’”
Through nine Grapefruit League games, Beavers is only hitting .192 (5-for-26). But the University of California, Berkeley product has four doubles and a triple. He’s been more aggressive at the plate, but that’s been a result of him fine-tuning his swing over the spring.
Most importantly, Beavers has made positive impressions on the O’s revamped coaching staff.
“I don’t think he realizes how good he actually is, is the way I’m sensing it,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Because he’s an impact player and the dude can play baseball.”
With Taylor Ward and Colton Cowser locked in as the primary starters in left and center, respectively, the majority of the left-handed-hitting Beavers’ playing time is likely to come in right. He’ll likely have to share opportunities with righty-hitting Tyler O’Neill, who will also factor into the rotation at designated hitter as he tries to stay healthier this year.
However, it’s worth noting that Beavers has made as many starts this spring in center (four) as he has in right. The Orioles believe the work in center could help make Beavers a better corner outfielder, but it could also make him a legitimate option to back up Cowser.
“Great athlete. Great adjustability out there. The arm plays well,” said first-base coach Jason Bourgeois, who is also Baltimore’s outfield coach. “It’s just, ‘How can we maximize his potential?’ I think putting him out in center will help as well.”
Beavers has yet to play center in the Majors, but he made 70 starts there over his four Minor League seasons. So he’s feeling comfortable at the position, and he believes he’s getting better all around thanks to his work with Bourgeois.
“The main thing is I’m just trying to get in a comfortable pre-pitch position, get where I feel like I can get the best jump on the ball. So we worked a lot on [my] first move, reading the ball off the bat,” Beavers said. “I think that puts me in a better position to get the balls that I maybe wouldn’t, or get to the wall early and be able to find the ball and camp under certain fly balls out there.”
If the O’s are comfortable with Beavers as their backup to Cowser in center, then it could lead to an opening for Heston Kjerstad on the 26-man roster. Kjerstad has looked good this spring, but he’s currently blocked by veteran outfielder Leody Taveras, who signed a one-year, $2 million deal to provide depth in center.
It’s possible Kjerstad gets optioned and Beavers stays in the corners. Or they could both make the team and Beavers could get more time in center than initially expected.
There’s still plenty for the Orioles to sort out during the final weeks of Spring Training.
“That’s a great problem to have,” Albernaz said. “I hope there’s 30 players that we’re trying to fit into the 13 position-player group to get at-bats. To me, that’s a testament to the caliber of talent we have in that room.”