2022 Draft mates making noise on the farm

This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

BOWIE, Md. -- Dylan Beavers and Jud Fabian were both selected by the Orioles on Day 1 of the 2022 MLB Draft -- the former in Competitive Balance Round A and the latter in Competitive Balance Round B. The 23-year-old outfielders became close friends soon after, as they met each other prior to any other players in their class or in Baltimore’s system.

Over the past two-plus years, Beavers and Fabian have perhaps been a bit overshadowed, only because of how much talent the O’s have had in their Minor League ranks.

Now, they’ve both been making some noise late in their third professional seasons.

On Sunday, Fabian was informed that he was being promoted to Triple-A Norfolk, putting him one step away from the big leagues. Then, on Monday, Beavers was named the Eastern League Player of the Week for Aug. 13-18, becoming the first Double-A Bowie player to receive the honor this season.

Fabian (Baltimore’s No. 13 prospect) has 60-grade power, which led to 33 home runs in 162 Double-A games in the past two seasons. His 18 homers for Bowie this year were tied for the Eastern League lead at the time of his promotion to Triple-A.

“That’s kind of my strong suit hitting-wise,” Fabian said. “I’ve just been staying working on the power numbers, having good swing decisions, putting good swings on balls in the zone, and most of the time, I’m able to do that, it’s hit hard. And most of the time, it goes out.”

A former standout at the University of Florida, Fabian also has 60-grade speed, which he frequently utilizes to make tremendous plays in center field. He made a nice diving catch during his debut for Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday, when he went 0-for-3 with two walks and a steal.

Although Fabian slashed .233/.326/.432 in 98 games for Bowie this season, he was playing quite well before getting bumped up, hitting .351 (13-for-37) with a 1.111 OPS over his final 11 Double-A contests. Also, his defensive gems were becoming even more routine.

“He’s probably one of the best defenders I’ve ever played with -- for sure [in the] outfield,” Beavers said. “He’s the best outfielder I’ve played with.”

Beavers (the Orioles’ No. 8 prospect) is pretty good himself. The University of California, Berkeley product is a well-rounded, toolsy player who continues to show improvement.

Last week, Beavers earned Eastern League recognition by going 9-for-20 (.450) with two doubles, a triple, four walks and five RBIs in five games, which included four consecutive multi-hit performances. He is hitting .240 with a .748 OPS over 99 contests.

“He’s an unreal player,” Fabian said. “He’s got insane bat-to-ball skills, he’s got power, he plays defense, he’s got a good arm, he steals a bunch of bases.”

In 2023, Beavers’ 55-grade power didn’t translate to long balls at Double-A, as he swatted only two homers over his first 34 games for Bowie. In ‘24, he has 12 home runs, more than he had across all levels last season.

If Beavers continues to rake -- the results of a more refined approach at the plate -- he could soon be joining Fabian in Triple-A.

“The last month or so, I’ve had a big focus on being more adjustable, just because I feel like this year, they’ve attacked me with a little more spin, the pitchers have,” Beavers said. “Obviously, I can sit slider or sit breaking ball early in the count, and I might get lucky and they’ll throw what I want. But I want to be able to have an all-around approach where I can adjust off of heaters.

“That’s what I’ve been focusing on, is being able to be ready for a fastball and adjust in a position where I can drive a breaking ball if they hang one early in the count.”