Beato measuring up in Single-A

Pedro Beato quickly realized what professional baseball was all about. In his first few outings with the Aberdeen Ironbirds, the Single-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles (who selected him in the supplemental round of this year's Major League Baseball Amateur Draft), he saw his blazing fastball turned around.
&#8220I've seen it [before],” he said of his mid 90's fastball. &#8220But not that much, not like I've seen it here. … Not a shock. Just a warning: be more careful with my pitching selection, learn how to pitch more.”
The Glendale native is already making adjustments, as evidenced by his impressive numbers. In 46 innings, Beato, 2-1 with a 3.72 ERA, has allowed just 39 hits, struck out 42, held opponents to just a .220 average, and has compiled a 1.33 walks and hits per innings pitched. &#8220He's actually blossoming,” catcher Kevin Kotch said. &#8220He's going to be a good pitcher. … Instead of just throwing, he's learning how to pitch. He's got four quality pitches he can throw for strikes.”
The life of a professional pitcher, Beato says, isn't all it's cracked up to be. Extensive traveling, long hours and hard work consume the 6-foot-5, 210-pounder's life. &#8220It's not as easy as people think it is,” said Beato, 19, before the Ironbirds visited the Brooklyn Cyclones at KeySpan Park in Coney Island. &#8220But if you want to get to The Show, like they call it, you have to get through it.”
There certainly is that potential in Beato's impressive power arm, along with a cut fastball, slider, change-up, that portends he can make it one day, said Aberdeen Manager Andy Etchebarren. &#8220If he doesn't get hurt, he stays healthy and gets more consistent with all his pitches,” said Etchebarren, in his 32nd year in the Orioles system, &#8220he should be able to pitch in the big leagues with his arm.”
Gaining consistency, Etchebarren emphasized, would be his one knock on Beato if there was anything to complain about regarding the hard-working and mature kid. But, the former two-time All-Star with the Orioles added, that's part of the package with any 19-year-old. &#8220He's had a couple of really good games, two not-so-good games. But that's part of being young,” Etchebarren said.
Although he rated his performance thus far this summer as &#8220nothing special,” citing a need to locate more precisely and gain consistency with all his pitches, Beato is living his dream, enjoying each time he climbs the hill, even the occasions when his results don't illuminate the scoreboard with zeroes. &#8220I'm doing something I love,” he said. &#8220It's an opportunity everyone wants to get.”