![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/SethBeerz.jpg\")
<\/a>Yesterday (September 10, 2021), Seth Beer<\/strong> made his MLB debut for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He came on as a pinch hitter (for Christian Walker) in the top of the eighth inning with one out, no one\u00a0 on and \u00a0the Diamondbacks trailing the Mariners 5-3.\u00a0 Beer got his MLB career off with a bang, hitting a 1-1\u00a0 pitch from Diego Castillo to deep right field for a home run. For Baseball Roundtable that was a much-awaited long ball.\u00a0 Why? \u2026 you might ask.\u00a0 After all, more than 120 players have homered in their first MLB at bat. True enough, but Baseball Roundtable had recommended readers keep an eye on Beer as long ago as 2017 \u2013 after his freshman year at Clemson University.\u00a0 With that in mind, I\u2019d like to:<\/p>\n- \n
- Revisit that original post (from January 26, 2017); and<\/li>\n
- Update readers on Beer\u2019s path to the big leagues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
First, that original post.<\/p>\n
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________________________________________________________________<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Baseball and Beer \u2013 Clemson Baseball and Seth Beer \u2013 A Winning Combination<\/span><\/h3>\n
Published January 26, 2017 in Baseball Roundtable<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Robin Ventura, Jason Varitek, Todd Helton, Mark Teixeira, Jered Weaver, Alex Gordon. David Price, Buster Posey, Stephen Strasburg, Kris Bryant.\u00a0 What ballplayer wouldn\u2019t want to be mentioned in the same breath as these stars?\u00a0 Well, a young outfielder with a perfect baseball name \u2013 Seth Michael Beer\u00a0– and tremendous baseball potential already is.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/SethBeerAction-300x200.jpg\")
<\/a>Seth Beer – first freshman Dick Howser Trophy winner – helped lead the Clemson Tigers to the 2016 ACC Title. Photo courtesy Clemson University.<\/p><\/div>\n
Playing right field and batting in the three-spot for 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Champion Clemson University, the 6\u20193\u201d, 200-pound Beer joined the previously noted MLB All Stars in earning the Dick Howser Trophy as the national college baseball player of the year. \u00a0And, he did it in dramatic fashion. Not only did Beer become the first freshman to earn the recognition, he did it after leaving high school early to attend Clemson.\u00a0 Basically, he earned collegiate player of the year honors when he very well could have been enjoying\u00a0 his senior year at Lambert (GA) High School.<\/p>\n
Now, as regular followers of Baseball Roundtable know, during the off-season, this blog has a tendency to look back nostalgically at what some members of my family call \u201cantique baseball.\u201d Witness recent posts on Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn (click here<\/a>) and 1957 Braves\u2019 hero Bob \u201cHurricane\u201d Hazle (click here<\/a>). In this post, however, I\u2019d like to look toward the future \u2013 and share with readers a little bit about an individual who is truly a player to follow as he continues his college \u2013 and moves on to a major league \u2013 career.<\/p>\n
THE NUMBERS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
A lot of Roundtable readers are deep into statistics, so let\u2019s start our look at Seth Beer with a few numbers.<\/p>\n
As a college freshman, Beer played in 62 games \u2013 hitting .369, with 13 doubles, 18 home runs, 70 RBI, 57 runs scored, 62 walks (versus 27 strikeouts) and 15 hit-by-pitches. He led Clemson to the Atlantic Coast Conference title, being selected team MVP \u2013 after leading the squad in batting average, home runs, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and outfield assists. \u00a0Can I say it again \u2013 as a freshman.<\/em><\/p>\n
High School \u2013 A Precursor<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
Seth Beer\u2019s performance on the diamond for the Clemson Tigers should be no surprise. In two seasons of high school baseball, Beer hit .537, with 12 home runs, 61 RBI, 44 runs scored, 30 walks (15 strikeouts) in 48 games.\u00a0 As a pitcher, he went 3-1, with a 1.80 ERA, striking out more than a batter an inning. (High school stats from maxpreps.com.) Beer earned six high-school athletic letters (three in baseball, two in football and two in swimming) and was a national high-school All American in baseball as a sophomore and a junior.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
THE CHARACTER<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/BeerSeth-215x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Seth Beer. Photo: Courtsy of Clemson University.<\/p><\/div>\n
Then, of course, there is character.\u00a0 Majoring in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Beer was an Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll Member and All-ACC Academic selection.<\/p>\n
And, while he definitely has his sights set on a major-league career (and cites his parents as the biggest influence in his life and baseball), Beer told Baseball Roundtable that “After my playing career, I want to be involved in helping others, specifically with homeless shelters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beer\u2019s coach at Clemson, who has called Beer the best freshman he\u2019s ever seen, also praised the young star\u2019s work ethic and quiet leadership.\u00a0 \u201cSeth is more of a quiet leader and leader by example,\u201d Clemson Coach Monte Lee said. \u201cAs he gets older, he will become more of a vocal leader. Players really look up to him because of his work ethic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Character is also reflected in Beer\u2019s Dick Howser Trophy selection.\u00a0 In presenting the Award, DH Trophy Chair David Feaster said \u201cSeth Beer truly deserves this national honor.\u00a0 His status as a national player of the year as a freshman is a history-making moment. In just a short time, he has exhibited the Dick Howser traits of excellent performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage.\u201d<\/p>\n
ADDITIONAL RECOGNITION<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
I should emphasize here that the Dick Howser Trophy was not the only recognition Seth Beer earned as a college freshman.\u00a0 Here are just a few of the additional honors Beer received in his first season at Clemson:<\/p>\n
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- College Sports Madness<\/em> Player of the Year (first freshman winner);<\/li>\n
- First Team All American by American Baseball Coaches Association, Baseball America<\/em>, College Sports Madness,<\/em> D1Baseball, National College Baseball Writers Association, and Perfect Game<\/em>;<\/li>\n
- Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year (first freshman winner); and, of course;<\/li>\n
- A host of awards reserved for college freshman, including National Freshman Player of the Year by Baseball America<\/em>, College Sports Madness,<\/em> D1Baseball and Perfect game<\/em>, as well as several freshman All-American honors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Baseball Roundtable is introducing readers to Seth Beer in this post because I believe he is a player and young man to watch \u2013 and that, someday, you will be able to see his baseball skills, leadership and positive character on a major-league field near you.\u00a0 I might add (see the box below), the odds seem to be in his favor.<\/p>\n
The Dick Howser Trophy<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
The Dick Howser Trophy was established in 1987 to honor the national college baseball player of the year. The Award is named after Dick Howser \u2013 twice an All American shortstop at Florida State University, an eight-season major-league player (1961 All Star) and eight-season major league manager (1985 World Series Champion) \u2013 who passed away in 1987, at age 51, of brain cancer. From 1987-1998 the winners were selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association.\u00a0 Since 1999, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association has made the selection.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
How much of an indicator of future success is this honor? \u00a0Of the 28 winners (Brooks Kieschnick of the University of Texas is the only two-time winner):<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
- \n
- 24 became MLB First-Round draft picks;<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
- 24 went on to play in the major leagues;<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
- 13 became MLB All Stars;<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
- Three became Rookies of the Year \u2013 Jason Jennings, Buster Posey, Kris Bryant;<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
- Two were selected first overall in the MLB draft \u2013 David Price,\u00a0 Stephen Strasburg;<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
- One went on to win a league MVP Award \u2013 Buster Posey; and<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
- One captured a Cy Young Award \u2013 David Price.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Base ball Roundtable’s advice?\u00a0 Track Seth Beer\u2019s sophomore season – and beyond. If you are in a fantasy league with \u201creserve keepers,\u201d consider drafting him now. \u00a0Start saving now for an MLB jersey with \u201cBeer\u201d and his number proudly displayed on the back.<\/span><\/p>\n
In the meantime, BBRT says congratulations to Clemson and Seth Beer on a tremendous 2016 season \u2013 and the best of luck for the coming campaign.<\/p>\n
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______________________________________________________________________<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
So, that post was Baseball Roundtable’s readers’ introduction to Seth Beer (I have to get a Beer jersey, that just says baseball all the way). Now an update on Beer’s path to the “bigs.”<\/p>\n
In 2017, Beer hit .298, with 16 homers and 53 RBI, 64 walks and 14 hit-by-pitches \u00a0(.478 on-base percentage). He led his Clemson squad in home runs, RBI, total bases, slugging percentage (.606), walks, intentional walks (17), hit by pitch and on-base percentage. \u00a0After winning the Dick Howser Trophy as a Freshman, Beer was a semi-finalist for the recognition in his second college season. Among his honors were a second-team all American selection by the National College Baseball Writers Association and a second-team All Atlantic Coast Conference Selection.<\/p>\n
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Target Practice<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
In three collegiate baseball seasons (188 games), Seth Beer was hit by a pitch 42 times.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
In 2018, Beer was once again<\/em> a semi-finalist for the Dick Howser Award and was selected a first-team All American by the American Baseball Coaches Association, Baseball America<\/em>, College Sports Madness<\/em>, Collegiate Baseball, d1Baseball and the National College Baseball Writers Association \u2013 and was a first-team All Atlantic Coast Conference selection. He earned these (and more) honors with a .301-22-54 season, leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in homers, total bases (145) and slugging percentages (.642) – and finishing in the top five in walks (54), on-base percentage\u00a0 (.456) and\u00a0 runs scored (64). He was also hit by a pitch 13 times.<\/p>\n
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In 2018, Clemson was 20-2 in games in which Seth Beer hit a home run.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The list of collegiate accomplishments could go on and one, but you get the idea.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/baseballroundtable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Be4er-Chars.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAll of this earned Beer a first round (28th<\/sup> overall) selection in the 2018 MLB draft (Astros).<\/p>\n
He launched his pro career (as an OF\/1B) as a 21-year-old in 2018 \u2013 putting up\u00a0 a .304-12-42 line at A and High-A (67 games). In 2019, he played at High-A and Double-A and went .289-26-103 in 122 games.\u00a0 (He was traded to the Diamondbacks in July of that season, in a transaction that sent 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner Zack Grienke to the Astros).<\/p>\n
Beer began the 2021 season at Triple A Reno and hit.287-16-59 in 100 games before his call up to the D-backs.<\/p>\n
Still a Target<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
In three-minor-league seasons (289 games), Seth Beer has been hit by a pitch 72 times.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
All I can say is keep watching. It looks like \u00a0this might be quite a ride – a major-league Beer run.<\/p>\n
Primary Resources: Baseball-References.com; ClemsonTigers.com<\/em><\/p>\n
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<\/a>Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.\u00a0 To see the full list, click\u00a0here.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nI tweet baseball @DavidBBRT<\/h3>\n
- 24 went on to play in the major leagues;<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
- First Team All American by American Baseball Coaches Association, Baseball America<\/em>, College Sports Madness,<\/em> D1Baseball, National College Baseball Writers Association, and Perfect Game<\/em>;<\/li>\n
- College Sports Madness<\/em> Player of the Year (first freshman winner);<\/li>\n