When the Los Angeles Dodgers needed to activate Mookie Betts off the 10-day injured list and replenish their bullpen in late August, Matt Beaty and Gavin Lux were the corresponding roster moves as both got optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
“Obviously it was a little frustrating going down, but just happy to be back with the team and trying to help the team win ballgames,” Beaty said after the Dodgers’ 3-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
Lux was the first to return to active roster, which came as a bit of a surprise considering Beaty had more success with L.A. this season. Though, Lux has provided more flexibility as he filled a utility role.
Beaty was recalled last week when Billy McKinney went on the 10-day IL due to a left hip impingement. Beaty’s start on Friday night was his first since Aug. 17.
It was unexpected and occurred only because Lux was a late scratch after being hit by a pitch in the right forearm. Beaty went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in the ninth inning.
“Kind of fitting back into my role like it was before I left, and that’s be a bench bat, come off the bench and have good at-bats,” Beaty said. “Just trying to find my rhythm again. It was kind of shaky my first couple at-bats, but I’m starting to feel better in the box.”
That process began when Beaty was demoted to OKC, though it only went so far.
“It’s nice to get consistent at-bats and get four or five at-bats a night, but the quality of pitching is a little bit different and gameplanning is a little bit different, so it’s a little bit different of an at-bat compared to what I’m used to here,” Beaty explained.
“So just falling back into my routine I had a few weeks ago is going to help me with confidence going forward and putting together good at-bats.”
Roberts: Dodgers value Beaty
noted it was merely a byproduct of a roster crunch with a player who still had Minor League options.“He’s done everything I’ve asked of him, so it’s just more of a player that has options, gets to take at-bats every day, and hopefully we can get him back at some point,” Roberts said at the time. “Very difficult, because he’s a Major League player.”
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