Dodgers’ minor league report- Best players of April
By Jacob Rudner
Truth be told, there haven’t been many ridiculous performances for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers.
Through the first full month of the year, the Dodgers’ highest minor league affiliate has won just eight of their first 25 games and have trudged along at last place in their PCL division.
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But, record aside, the performances in Triple-A have been somewhere between atrocious and fair with a few exceptions.
JT Chargois is one of them, the journeyman reliever has made eight appearances and has a team-best 0.82 ERA. But, having been called up, collected his first major league hit and played well over the last month, the best exception to OKC’s unfortunate rule is Matt Beaty.
Beaty hit .277 prior to his MLB call up with two home runs and 10 RBI’s. The 26-year-old infielder has long awaited a crack at the big leagues after having spent the majority of 2018 injured and having been recognized as the Texas League’s (Double-A) best player back in 2017.
Beaty profiles as a highly-talented contact bat that can keep the ball in the field of play with 10-15 home run power.
Beaty’s biggest question is consistency and it’s not the consistency that he can control. The Dodgers need to provide the 26-year-old with some consistent playing time to fully reap the benefits of a guy that will not put the ball over the wall that often.
Beaty profiles as a middle of the lineup guy but position blocks on the major league roster could prevent that consistency. For now, he will be a highly incredible and serviceable pinch-hitter as he proved in his first pro AB.