Off the field, Cotuit’s Landon Beaver (UAB) would describe himself as a happy and laid-back guy. But when the cleats and pinstripe jersey come on, those adjectives change.
“When I'm playing, I kind of have to play with a chip on my shoulder,” Beaver said. “I get a little feisty, a little angry.”
Beaver has used that mindset to his advantage, emerging as one of the Kettleers’ most reliable players. Whether it’s showing up in the box or in the outfield, he has impressed this season, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
In three words, Cotuit’s Jake Hanley (Georgia) would describe Beaver as hardworking, focused and a leader.
“He doesn't take a play off, and he's a good voice for the team,” Hanley said.
Playing in the Cape Cod Baseball League demands the best from athletes. Many of Cotuit’s players are new to the CCBL, but Beaver got a small taste of it last summer.
In 2025, he played for the Strasburg Express of the Valley Baseball League in Strasburg, Virginia. The Express experienced a very successful season, winning the North Division pennant and the VBL Championship.
Beaver led the league in home runs with 13 and in RBI with 45. He hit for a .354 average and was voted the VBL North Division Player of the Year — “It was one of the best seasons of my baseball career,” Beaver said.
He refused to rest on his laurels when Strasburg’s season ended. Beaver received a message on Instagram from Peter Flaherty, who now works with the Washington Nationals, about an opportunity to play for the Kettleers as the team wrapped up its season. He didn’t think twice.
“We won the championship in Virginia, (and the) next day, I drove up here,” Beaver said. “I got here, slept, woke up the next day and played.”
Beaver was with Cotuit for just three regular-season games and the postseason. The time may have been short, but the experience was invaluable.
“You never want to miss an opportunity to play in the Cape,” Beaver said. “I think coming up last year helped me get in the league again this year.”
When Beaver found out that he would be returning to the Kettleers in 2026, he felt “pumped.” So far, he’s making the most of the opportunity — he is one of seven Kettleers to hit a home run, he is tied for the most RBI on the team with 11 and he made the Cape League All-Star team.
“He’s been really consistent with his hitting and his fielding and just his attitude day in and day out,” Hanley said. “You're never going to catch him when he's mad at himself or dwelling on the last play. He’s a good guy to have on your team.”
Beaver elevates those around him by being a talented ballplayer but also by simply being himself.
“Pregame, he's talking a little bit,” Hanley said. “He’ll get the guys together, tell a couple jokes, or he'll be in the middle of something. He’s never not happy.”
In the Cape, Beaver has plenty to be happy about. When asked what the best part of playing for Cotuit is, he struggled to choose just one thing.
“The teammates, the community, everybody,” he said. “We have the best field in the league. Everything's awesome. I have no complaints.”
Beaver will look to finish out the year strong and soak up the remainder of the summer with a team he’s grown comfortable with and in a village he’s come to love.
