Beavers launched a three-run shot in Wednesday, his first home run since April 24th.
In the top of the third inning in Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins, Dylan Beavers came to the plate with one out and two runners on with the game knotted at one run apiece.
With a 2-2 count, Beavers waited on a curveball from Twins starter Zebby Matthews and lifted the ball well into the right field seats, giving the Orioles a three-run lead with a three-run shot. Unfortunately, that lead was short-lived as Shane Baz struggled shortly after in a game that Baltimore would end up dropping, 7-5.
However, the homer meant much more for Beavers, who has been searching for some consistency at the plate for a long time. The home run was Beavers’ third of the year, and his first one since April 24th.
“It was nice to hit one off the barrel and do something to help the team,” Beavers said, according to Orioles on MASN. “I feel like it’s frustrating when you’re struggling because you feel like you’re holding the team back. It’s nice to produce something today.”
Beavers has not had the season that he had hoped for heading into the year. Inconsistencies have had him primarily be a platoon bat, while also dealing with an injury that held him out from mid-May to late-June.
This season, Beavers has logged a .239 batting average with 22 RBI in 197 at-bats, while showing minimal power with just the three homers. He hasn’t hit the ball hard much, but has shown promise with a productive chase rate.
Just a couple of weeks ago in an appearance on the Ryan Ripken Show, Beavers said that he has changed his approach at the plate gradually over his young career, with the mindset of winning every pitch rather than aiming for the homer each time.
Beavers’ tenacity has been more evident, despite those struggles he has had. The trust in him is definitely there, as he was hitting fifth for the team on Wednesday.
“I’ve been working really hard. I’m not okay with struggling because I think I’m better than that,” Beavers said. “I’ve been trying to figure out what’s going on, where the inconsistencies are coming from. In the long run, I’m going to figure out. It's just challenging right now.”
Baltimore will now turn the page to a very crucial four-game set against their division rival, the Tampa Bay Rays, who currently own the best record in baseball. The goal is simple for the Orioles, as it has been over the last month — stay afloat and in reach of an AL Wild Card spot.
"Obviously, there's still a lot of games left, so a big series in Tampa, I think, can be really good for us,” Beavers said. “But they're a good team, so we've got to play our best ball."
