Checking in on the Pros

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Three former members of the Belmont University baseball team are currently representing the Bruins in the organizations of three different Major League Baseball clubs, with two trying to work their way towards a big-league debut and one playing to get back to his team in the thick of a playoff chase. 
 

Matt Beaty ('15) is currently with the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, as he works his way through a rehab assignment. After signing with the Padres this past offseason following three years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the 2020 World Series champion played in 17 games for San Diego this season before injuring his shoulder while diving for a ball in early May.  

Matt Beaty lands it on the @flyelp Gateway!#FearTheEars pic.twitter.com/N8yVmjBkJd

— El Paso Chihuahuas (@epchihuahuas) August 15, 2022

During his rehab assignment, Beaty has played in 24 games for the Chihuahuas and hit .321 with two home runs and 13 RBIs. The utility-man is looking to rejoin a Padres team that is 66-55 and currently holds the third wild card spot in the National League standings.
 

Elsewhere, Jamie Ritchie ('13) is currently with the Indianapolis Indians, the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, as he looks for his first appearance in the major leagues after eight years in the minors. The catcher made a splash last season with the Reno Aces, the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, hitting .317 with four home runs in 79 games on the way to being named a 2021 MiLB.com Organization All-Star for the Diamondbacks. 
 

The former 13th round pick of the Houston Astros then signed a minor league contract with the Pirates last November and is hitting .236 for the Indians in 2022, with an on-base percentage of .376 in 31 games. Ritchie owns a career average in the minor leagues of .284 with 28 professional home runs. 
 

Dylan King ('18) is currently with the Tri-City Dust Devils, the High-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. The right-handed pitcher has made 17 appearances in 2022 with five starts, currently holding a 2.70 ERA in 46.1 innings on the mound with 59 strikeouts. The former 18th round pick also made a start for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees earlier this season, tossing four innings, before returning to the Dust Devils. 
 

Belmont is coming off their first OVC Regular Season Championship in school history after a 39-20 season that came to an end in extra-innings in the OVC Tournament Championship game. The Bruins swept the conference's major awards, with Andy Bean winning OVC Pitcher of the Year, Guy Lipscomb winning OVC Player of the Year, and Dave Jarvis winning OVC Coach of the Year. Belmont swept Purdue in April, the first road sweep of a Power Five opponent in school history. Lipscomb became the first player in NCAA Division I since 2011 to hit above .400 and steal at least 40 bases on his way to All-American honors, the first Bruin baseball player to be named an All-American since Nick Egli in 2017.  
  
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