Gordon Beckham
| AB | 3403 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .237 |
| OBP | .3 |
| SLG | .367 |
| HR | 80 |
- Full name James Gordon Beckham
- Born 09/16/1986 in Atlanta, GA
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 188 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Georgia
- Debut 06/04/2009
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Drafted in the 1st round (8th overall) by the Chicago White Sox in 2008 (signed for $2,600,000).
View Draft Report
After he went undrafted out of high school, Beckham has improved as much as any player during his three years in college. He started from his freshman season at Georgia, and hit 12 home runs his first season to help the Bulldogs in the College World Series and land on BA's Freshman All-American team. His batting average and power numbers have increased each year since. He won the Cape Cod League home run title last summer, and has shown it was no fluke by hitting 22 homes so far this spring. He has been among the Division I leaders in batting, home runs and slugging percentage all season. At the plate, Beckham is a home run threat to all fields. He has powerful forearms and snap in his wrists that lead to his above-average bat speed. After being known as a hacker early in his college career he is now regarded as a professional hitter. He makes good contact and consistently squares up balls and uses the whole field. While no one questions his ability to hit, scouts are split on whether Beckham has the hands to stay at shortstop. He has the instincts and is athletic with enough range and arm strength to stick at the premium position.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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With the No. 8 overall pick in the 2008 draft, the White Sox picked in the top 10 for the first time since they landed Alex Fernandez with the fourth choice in 1990. Last year, the choice came at a time when Chicago had few impact position players in its system, and taking Beckham filled two needs--a-power bat and a middle infielder. Signed for $2.6 million two days before the Aug. 15 deadline, he was the top college shortstop and one of the most polished players in the draft. The son of a former South Carolina quarterback, Beckham starred in both football and baseball at the Westminster School in Atlanta but went undrafted as a senior. He turned down a chance to play quarterback at the Air Force Academy in favor of focusing on baseball at Georgia. He led the Bulldogs to a second-place finish at the 2008 College World Series, hitting .474 with five homers and 20 RBIs in 14 NCAA tournament games. His 28 homers set a school record and tied for the Division I lead, while his .411 average was Georgia's best since 1982. His 53 career homers established another Bulldogs mark. Beckham hit the ground running as a pro, playing well in 14 games at low Class A Kannapolis before an impressive tour of duty in the Arizona Fall League. Hitting will be Beckham's ticket to the big leagues. He doesn't have a classic stroke but has strong forearms and quick wrists, generating impressive bat speed. Though he isn't built like a power hitter, he centers the ball well and the ball jumps off his bat. He led the Cape Cod League with nine homers in 2007, suggesting that his power comes from more than a metal bat. He's willing to use the entire field and was well coached at Georgia, developing a strong knowledge of the strike zone and a willingness to walk. He has unusual pitch recognition for a young hitter. A good athlete, Beckham has average speed and the arm and instincts to stick at shortstop. His game has drawn comparisons to Michael Young's. He also has strong makeup and says his goal is "to lead the White Sox one day the way Derek Jeter leads the Yankees." The biggest question with Beckham is whether he'll remain at shortstop. Before the draft, scouts were split on his defensive ability, but the White Sox believe he can stay there. His hands aren't the softest, and he'll have to work to get smoother at fielding grounders. Though he moves well, he doesn't project as much of a basestealer. Beckham's chance to become Chicago's first homegrown shortstop since Bucky Dent hinges on how well Alexei Ramirez takes to a planned move from second base to short in 2009. If Ramirez establishes himself at shortstop, Beckham likely will move to second or third base in the near future. He has enough bat to carry him at either position. Beckham probably will open the season at high Class A Winston-Salem and finish it at Double-A Birmingham. He could be in Chicago by 2010.
Minor League Top Prospects
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One year after sharing the NCAA Division I lead with 28 homers at Georgia, Beckham began 2009 in Double-A and quickly advanced to Chicago, where he was one of the top rookies in the American League. Beckham has a short, efficient swing with good bat speed, using quick hands and strong forearms to routinely put the barrel to the ball and drive it for power. He has a solid approach at the plate, showing the ability to recognize offspeed pitches, use the opposite field and employ a sound two-strike approach. Most managers felt that Beckham could play shortstop at the major league level, as he has good athleticism, first-step quickness and a solid arm. Others thought he might be a better fit at second or third base partly because of his fringe-average speed, and the White Sox used him solely at the hot corner alongside Alexei Ramirez at short. Beckham's baserunning still could use additional polish. "I put a higher grade on Beckham than I put on any other player I saw this year," a National League scout said.
