Former Los Angeles Dodgers utility player and 2020 World Series champion Matt Beaty has officially announced his retirement from professional baseball at the age of 33, closing a career that took him through four Major League organizations.
Beaty shared the decision in a lengthy statement, nearly three years after making his final MLB appearance and almost two years after his last professional at-bat.
“I believe it’s time to finally officially announce that I’m entering the next chapter of my life,” Beaty wrote.
“It’s been almost two years since my last at-bat in baseball. The time since then has been filled with questions and back-and-forth.”
For Beaty, the uncertainty apparently lasted longer than the playing career itself. He acknowledged that he suspected his final game really was the end, even while leaving open the possibility of another opportunity.
“Deep down, I think I knew my last game was my last game,” he said. “I just held onto the hope that it wouldn’t be.”
From a 12th-Round Pick to a World Series Champion
Beaty’s professional journey began when the Dodgers selected him in the 12th round of the 2015 MLB Draft. He worked his way through the organization before making his major league debut with Los Angeles in 2019.
His most notable team achievement came one year later.
Beaty was part of the Dodgers club that won the 2020 World Series, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in six games. He remained with Los Angeles through the 2021 season before moving on to the San Diego Padres.
His MLB career would eventually include stops with the Padres, San Francisco Giants, and Kansas City Royals.
Beaty addressed each fan base in his retirement message. He thanked Dodgers fans “for embracing me,” while offering Padres supporters a more playful acknowledgment.
“Sorry I never gave you the best version of me,” he wrote.
His message to Giants and Royals fans reflected how brief those stops were.
“Our time was way too short, but I’m grateful for every minute,” Beaty said.
Beaty’s Final MLB Appearance Came With Kansas City
His final major league appearance came with Kansas City on September 6, 2023. Beaty continued playing professionally in 2024, spending time in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization with the Triple-A Reno Aces and Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles.
That ultimately became his final season as a player.
Across 290 MLB games and 675 plate appearances, Beaty finished with a .247 batting average, .323 on-base percentage, and .394 slugging percentage. He hit 18 home runs and drove in 96 runs during his major league career.
Although his playing days are finished, Beaty has already found another role inside the sport.
A New Role With the Royals
Beaty revealed that he has been coaching with the Royals at their complex, working with the organization’s rookie-level players.
“Sharing my experiences and being someone these young players can talk to has reminded me how much this game has given me,” Beaty wrote.
It marks a natural shift for a player who spent years working his way from a 12th-round draft selection to the major leagues. Beaty’s MLB tenure lasted parts of five seasons, included appearances for four franchises, and put a World Series championship on his résumé.
Now, after spending nearly two years wondering whether another at-bat might come, Beaty has made the decision official. His career as a player is over, but his work in baseball has already continued from the other side of the game.
