Going into the 2019 season, Matt Beaty was a prospect for the Los Angeles Dodgers that began the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
If Beaty was in almost any other organization, he would have been a big league player, and he proved why after finally getting an opportunity at the end of April. Beaty was among the first players called up to fill in for injured players.
Though he went to and from Oklahoma City for a stretch, he eventually stuck with the Dodgers in the second half of the season and made their National League Division Series roster.
The 26-year-old provided the Dodgers some defensive versatility by playing both first base, third base and left field, but his real impact came on the offensive side of the ball.
In 99 games for the Dodgers, Beaty hit .265/.317/.458 with nine home runs, 19 doubles, 36 runs scored and 46 RBI. He was even better with OKC, slashing .306/.378/.455 with three home runs, seven doubles, 17 runs scored and 18 RBI in 32 games.
What was perhaps most impressive about Beaty was his ability to come through in big situations despite being in his first season.
He delivered time and time again, posting a 1.067 on-base plus slugging percentage with runners in scoring position in addition to a .929 OPS with two outs and RISP and a .935 OPS in “high-leverage” situations.
That production led to Beaty getting legitimate looks in the postseason where he went 3-for-8 (.375 batting average) in four games against the Nationals.
2019 highlight
Considering Beaty came up with so many big hits for the Dodgers, it was impossible to pick just one moment. The easy answer would be his walk-off home run against the Colorado Rockies on June 21.
Beaty stepped to the plate in a 2-2 game in the ninth inning and proceeded to launched a two-run home run to center field to secure his team a win.
That was the beginning of a historic weekend at Dodger Stadium as Alex Verdugo and Will Smith followed up with walk-off home runs of their own in the following two days to sweep the Rockies, marking the first time three rookies have hit consecutive walk-off shots.
One other big highlight of Beaty’s came On July 20 against the Miami Marlins. The Dodgers carried a 6-0 lead into the sixth inning, but the last-place Marlins eventually came back to tie the game at six.
Beaty saved the day with a three-run shot in the bottom of the eighth, helping complete a 9-6 victory at Chavez Ravine.
2020 Outlook:
Beaty’s role for the Dodgers going into 2020 is currently unknown considering there are some changes expected to be made this winter. It will likely be similar to the impact he made in 2019 though unless he is traded somewhere when he can earn an everyday role.
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