Clayton Beeter

The Dodgers #9 prospect is Clayton Beeter, 2^nd round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.  The 22-year old right-handed pitcher stands 6’2 and weighs 220 pounds.  Beeter is currently pitching for the Great Lake Loons, the Dodgers High A affiliate.  Clayton is 0-4 with a 3.13 ERA in 23 games in which he started 22.  In the 37.1 innings he pitched, Beeter has struck out 55 batters and walked 15.  He was in the headlines recently this year due to being involved in a combined no-hitter.  Injuries made Clayton Beeter a questionable draft prospect as he had Tommy John surgery in December of 2017 and then had an arthroscopic elbow procedure only seven months later, which by his recent stats, he has recovered well.

Clayton Beeter throws a fastball, curveball, and a changeup.  The fastball will touch 98 MPH in challenging situations, but it is typically around 94 MPH.  Beeter’s high arm slot helps increase his already excellent spin rate.  This pitch is already graded as a plus-plus pitch for him (70 on a 20-80 scale).  When a pitch is designated as a plus-plus pitch, that means scouts project that pitch to be well above average.

The curveball sits around 83 MPH and has a 12/6 movement.  Like his fastball, the curveball has incredible spin to the pitch as it drops 11 inches.  With the movement and the elite velocity in the curveball, it pairs exceptionally well with the fastball.

The changeup is his clear developmental pitch.  The pitch moves and sinks pretty well due to the fact he can spin any pitch.  The changeup is a vital pitch for Beeter because if he can make this a valuable pitch, he will be a good MLB starter having an arsenal of three very effective pitches..

Clayton Beeter’s ETA is predicted to be sometime in 2023.  Beeter is still a raw product and he hasn’t yet pitched many innings due to the COVID shutdown and his surgeries.  Right now, there isn’t enough value in the changeup for the Dodgers to successfully use him to face a lineup for the third time.  Clayton can be a nice bullpen piece next year if we have the same injury issues we have been faced with this year.  I believe the Dodgers want Clayton Beeter to be a starter, so they will hold him back as long as they can and work on developing the changeup.  If he develops a good changeup, he can be a good quality starting pitcher in 2023.