Not too many minor-league coaches can relate to their players like Frederick Keys? pitching coach Blaine Beatty can.
The first-year coach for the Orioles? Single-A affiliate appeared in 296 minor-league games as a pitcher and hundreds more since beginning his coaching career in the Pirates? organization in 1998. Beatty returns to the Orioles 20 years after he was drafted by the team, and replaces Scott McGregor as the Keys pitching coach.
Beatty joins an organization with a number of quality pitching prospects, including current Keys hurlers Radhames Liz, Garrett Olson and Richard Salazar. Beatty said having so much minor league coaching and playing experience is beneficial when coaching young players.
“At the major-league level, guys know every aspect of the game,” said the 40-year-old Beatty, who pitched in seven major league games with the Mets from 1989-91. “Here, you have to assume they don?t know anything. Pitchers here are hanging on to every word and are starving for information to get better.”
Beatty, who was the pitching coach for Double-A Binghamton in the Mets organization last season, said the approach to teaching pitching is different at every level of pro ball. He added that it is the coach?s responsibility to ensure a player has the right knowledge to succeed at the next level.
“Here, you are showing pitchers how to pitch,” Beatty said. “As you move up an organization, you learn more about how and where to use certain pitches and how to apply different strategies throughout the course of a game.”
