Dylan Beavers spent just six games with Triple-A Norfolk in 2024 after being promoted in September. Now, with 49 games under his belt with the Tides this year, he is flourishing.
The 6-foot-5, 206-pound outfielder is slashing .322/.412/.480 this season, good for his best stretch at the plate since his Double-A stint in 2023.
“I feel good. I just worked hard in the offseason, just tried to clean some stuff up,” Beavers said on Glenn Clark Radio June 4. “This year, I’ve just tried to take it day-to-day and not do anything crazy, just do what I know.”
The 23-year-old has made swift progress through Baltimore’s farm system since being selected No. 33 overall out of the University of California in 2022. Now, the major leagues seem to be in reach.
An opportunity in the big leagues may come as soon as this season. Cedric Mullins is a candidate to be traded at the deadline and Heston Kjerstad has had a rocky season thus far. Both situations may give Beavers a path to the major leagues.
Beavers’ 2025 numbers have seen a considerable uptick from last year. He credits a mental adjustment, rather than a physical one.
“I had a pretty long stint last year where I was struggling. I think part of it could’ve been physical, but I think more of it was approach stuff, just trying to do a little bit too much,” Beavers said. “I did clean some stuff up in the offseason, but most of it has just been cleaning up my approach, keeping it simple, and just not trying to do too much in the box.”
Though he has taken obvious strides as a hitter, Beavers is having likely his best season on the base paths as well. He has swiped 16 bases this year, already halfway to surpassing his career high of 31 with more than 100 games left in the season.
“I want to steal every time I get on base, I feel like that’s part of my game. It can help me and the team have success,” Beavers said. “But … if the pitcher’s doing a good job of holding me, I’m not going to run into an out — definitely still trying to find the right situation.”
Beavers expressed that one of his foremost goals entering the season was to improve on defense. Now, he is confident that he can take the next step at the plate and in the outfield.
“I’m always looking to get better. I’d like to be an above-average defender,” Beavers said. “So, just continuing to work on that part of my game — it’s kind of the lowest-hanging fruit for me right now.”
Management has moved Beavers around in the outfield, especially giving him time in left field in recent years. Beavers says the versatility is valuable, but he still feels most comfortable in right field, the position where he has played the most college and minor league innings.
Another adjustment Beavers has made is his approach to hitting for power.
“This year, I feel like I am hitting the ball harder. I haven’t gotten as many [balls] in the air as I would’ve liked to, but I’m having success so I’m not going to press the matter and try to get it in the air because I feel like that would be counterproductive for me,” Beavers said. “I feel like last year that led me to some struggles, trying to force power.”
Beavers has accepted that the hitting style working for him is different than the power-driven style of some of his teammates, such as fellow outfielder Jud Fabian and roommate Samuel Basallo.
“Playing with [Basallo] and [Fabian], you know those guys are real strong and they can get the ball in the air. It’s cool to watch just because it’s very impressive, but at the same time, I see that and I’m like ‘Alright, I don’t think that’s my game right now,'” Beavers said. “If I tried to hit like they were, I don’t think I’d be able to keep up with them. So, just focusing on what I do well and trying to maximize that, I think, benefits me and the team the most.”
For more from Beavers, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Norfolk Tides