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Dodgers: Could Matt Beaty Be the Next Big Dodger Breakout?

By Jack Trent Dorfman

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 03: Matt Beaty #45 congratulates Austin Barnes #15 after scoring on an RBI single hit by Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on May 03, 2019 in San Diego, California. THeLos Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-3. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 03: Matt Beaty #45 congratulates Austin Barnes #15 after scoring on an RBI single hit by Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on May 03, 2019 in San Diego, California. THeLos Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-3. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 21: Matt Beaty #45 of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches his two run homerun for 4-2 win over the Colorado Rockies, during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Muncy Comparison

When Beaty first came up, he reminded me of Muncy only in that he was a lefty with some pop playing infield in the stead of an injured Dodger starting lineup. But the comparison stopped there for me. I envisioned Muncy as a home run hitting third baseman immediately after his call up.

But after looking back at the game logs, I have begun to realize it really did take Muncy a little time to find the power stroke, something Beaty may be capable of tapping into as well.

In Muncy’s first 32 PAs he hit .207 with 2 home runs, and 12 strikeouts to just 3 walks. Things began to turn around for Muncy in his next 84 PAs, when he slapped 5 home runs, batted .261, and had 13 walks to 19 strikeouts.

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This plate discipline improvement and subsequent power surge may be in the cards for Beaty as well based on the disparity between his power and plate discipline numbers at the major league and minor league levels.

In Beaty’s first 39 PAs he hit no home runs with a .256 batting average, and no walks to five strikeouts. Sound familiar to Muncy yet? In his next 31 PAs, Beaty has smoked the ball, with 3 doubles, 2 home runs, and 2 walks to 6 strikeouts, all with an electric .414 batting average.

Thus, after reviewing the numbers, while Beaty is no Muncy in terms of power, he certainly needed a roughly 35 PA buffer before gaining comfort in the major league batters box.

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Beaty offers a refreshing change of pace for the Dodgers, a hitter devoid of the three true outcomes approach, sort of like Alex Verdugo. Beaty is looking likely to hit for average with some developing power, and hopefully, the pull-hitter can stay as red-hot as the dog days of summer he’ll be playing in while in Los Angeles.

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