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
Most Likely Future Role: 1st 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 more in games. He will starts 2024 in Bowie as a 22-year old and if he keeps improving, there’s no reason he won’t end 2024 in Norfolk. He could be an option at the major league level by 2025.