2023 Orioles #8 Prospect Dylan Beavers - OF

[Tony-OH]

https://orioleshangout.com/2023/11/14/2023-orioles-8-prospect-dylan-beavers-of/

After slugging 35 double, 11 homers and stealing 27 bases and ending his season hot in AA, Dylan Beavers comes in as the #8 prospect.

Dylan Beavers
Pos: OF
Bats: L
Throws: R
Age (as of Jun 30th) : 21
2023 Level: A+/AA

Tools (current/future value)
Hit: 40/50
Game Power: 40/50
Raw Power: 45/55
Run: 60/55
Defense: 50/55

2023 Highlights

Most Likely Future Role: 1^st Division outfielder
Ceiling: 1st Division Outfielder, occasional All-Star

What we know: In his first full major league season, the 21-year old left-handed swinging outfielder put up a pretty solid season between Aberdeen (A+) and Bowie (AA).

Knowing he needed to make some swing changes after being drafted, Beavers worked this off season at the Titleist Performance Institute eliminating up to nine inches of movement towards the pitcher in order to add more power. The changes helped initally as he put up a .886 OPS in April. He went into a slump for about six weeks afterwards by trying to think too much about his mechanics and just went back to competing at the plate and production took off.

Over his last 40 games in Aberdeen he slashed .343/.443/.580/1.024 with an impressive 29 BB to 33 K ratio in 176 PAs. That earned him a promotion to Bowie where he slashed .321/.417/.478/.894 over 157 PAs though he hit just two home runs.

Beavers still tends to leak out over his front half and saps his game power, but he does make solid contact often. His power is pull side though he hits the ball to all fields and will take those oppo singles they're available.

While he put on 15 pounds of muscle last offseason, he still has plenty of room to fill out and add more strength to his 6-foot-4 frame.

Defensively Beavers played mostly right field where he plus arm strength plays well though he did play some center and a few games in left. He doesn't get the best of jumps at times, but his above average speed helps make up for it though he projects as a corner outfielder at the major league level.

Beavers runs well and even had an inside the park home run and stole home once on a pick off play to first base.

What we don’t know: He made the adjustment well against AA pitching, but did so with a drop in power. Can he find ways to stop leaking out and stay back in order for his power to play more in games? While he hit a lot of doubles, he'll need some of those doubles to turn into home runs if he wants to play right field at the major league level. He hits lefties effectively though not as well as right-handers, so there is some platoon risk as he moves closer to the majors.

What we think: Beavers put together a nice season and while he doesn't have an extremely high ceiling, he has enough on base ability and solid defense to project as a starter corner outfielder, especially if he fills out and gets to his raw power

[LookinUp]

I'm surprised by his picture. I've noticed this about a couple of guys (Cowser too), where I expected these COF types to be stronger. I guess that bodes well for his future power, though your notes about him leaking in his swing are clearly the most important thing to fixing that issue. 

I had honestly expected a more exciting profile for Beavers. Makes me think of him as certainly a tier lower than the Kjerstad/Cowser/Gunnar/Mayo/Basallo/Adley/GRod/Bradish level guys.

With regards to total upside, he kind of reminds me of an outfield version of Westburg. A good player who isn't going to set the world on fire, but does profile as a good major leaguer (Tony says 1st division starter, which is great for me). 

[Daddy-O's]

I hope we get to watch him for a long time.  I have always been a fan of the everyday corner outfielder.  Orioles like BJ Surhoff , Joe Orsulak and even Austin Hayes.

[Frobby]

Beavers had an encouraging season.   I’m not convinced he’s a first division starter.  I’m thinking he’s more a 4th outfielder who plays solid defense and is a better hitter than a guy like McKenna.  I view him as a Stowers-level player, adding here that I think Stowers is a much better hitter than he’s had the opportunity to show in the big leagues.  

[waroriole]

He really reminds me of Darryl Strawberry. 

[emmett16]

Plays good D.  Big guy @ 6’4”, fast, good arm, & killer stache.  What’s not to like? 

[RZNJ]

 

[Sports Guy]

 

[DrinkinWithFermi]

1 hour ago, Sports Guy said:

 

He's turning into such a stud. Having him in the system almost makes me fine with trading Cowser. 

[wildcard]

6 hours ago, DrinkinWithFermi said:

He's turning into such a stud. Having him in the system almost makes me fine with trading Cowser. 

I think the key word here is almost.  Beavers has not played at AAA yet.  And in his 34 games at AA he did not hit for power.   That is something is going to have to do to reach the majors.

[waroriole]

8 hours ago, DrinkinWithFermi said:

He's turning into such a stud. Having him in the system almost makes me fine with trading Cowser. 

Is he? I guess if those 2B start turning into HR. He has potential but he hasn’t realized it yet. 

[Just Regular]

Skimming through various stats it did seem notable Beavers led the organization's Minors bats in lowest SwStr% last year - he nipped Frederick Bencosme by a tenth of a point, and they both under-ed Holliday by about 8% to 9%.

I don't tend to associate the preying mantis starting out body type with extreme contact, but contact is a skill the Sigbot seems to prefer.

Adley at 5.6 and Frazier at 8.6 were the only 300 PA Orioles in the single digits last year.

It'll be interesting to see if he's more Giant Steven Kwan than Cody Bellinger candidate as 2024 gets underway.

[Sports Guy]

I think he has real top 100 prospect potential. I don’t like him more or as much as Kjerstad or Cowser right now but this time next year it’s possible I will.

But he has a ways to go on that.

[Frobby]

2 hours ago, wildcard said:

I think the key word here is almost.  Beavers has not played at AAA yet.  And in his 34 games at AA he did not hit for power.   That is something is going to have to do to reach the majors.

He had a .157 ISO in Bowie.  You’d like that higher, but I wouldn’t say he didn’t hit for power.   

I have Beavers clearly below Cowser, who absolutely tore up Bowie when he was at the same stage of his career that Beavers was last year.  But I like how Beavers progressed.  
 

[Greg Pappas]

BTW, where do I find these #X Prospect threads?  I've searched for various prospects and cannot find them that way.  Odd.  

Edited January 10 by Greg Pappas