Tim Beckham

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #19 prospect in 2015
  The first overall pick in the 2008 draft has encountered numerous hurdles over his seven seasons in the minors, ranging from a 50-game suspension he drew in 2012 after testing positive for marijuana to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that required surgery and limited him to 95 at-bats in 2014. Beckham has impressive tools in all phases of the game with solid quick-twitch athleticism, but he has struggled to hit for average despite possessing above-average bat speed. He tends to over-swing and has not displayed good plate discipline throughout his career, resulting in high strikeouts with few walks. He generates above-average raw power but just fair in-game juice, though he can drive the ball to all fields and might hit more home runs as he matures. An average runner with decent range, Beckham has plus arm strength and consistent hands that should allow him to be a versatile infielder in the big leagues. Few see him as a starting big league shortstop, but he could see action at second and third base. Provided he opens the 2015 campaign healthy, Beckham should begin at Triple-A Durham and be a candidate to reach Tampa Bay at some point.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #9 prospect in 2014
  Beckham made his major league debut last September, more than five years after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft and signing for $6.15 million. But his 2014 season was put in jeopardy when he tore the ACL in his right knee during an offseason workout. Along the way he has peformed modestly and earned a 50-game suspension in 2012 for testing positive for marijuana for the second time. Beckham hit a career-best .276 during his third stint at Triple-A Durham, sliding to shortstop after Hak-Ju Lee's knee injury. He continued to display above-average bat speed and raw power to all fields, but that hasn't translated to home runs. He tends to overswing and has difficulty with pitch recognition, leading to low walk totals and more than 100 strikeouts in four of his five full seasons. He has also played second base and seems better suited for that position, despite above-average arm strength, given his average speed and range. The Rays say Beckham can be a starting shortstop in the big leagues, but that's complicated by Yunel Escobar and Lee. He may break in as a backup infielder, though the first task at hand will be rehabbing his knee.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #10 prospect in 2013
  As the first overall selection in the 2008 draft, Beckham always will be compared to Buster Posey, who went four picks later to the Giants. Since signing for $6.15 million, Beckham has made a rocky ascent through the minor leagues. He has hit just .256/.314/.389 in Triple-A during the last two seasons and was suspended for 50 games in 2012 after testing positive a second time for a drug of abuse. Beckham continues to maintain plus bat speed that generates raw power to all fields. His lack of consistency at the plate comes from his below-average pitch recognition and refusal at times to shorten his swing. The Rays are encouraged by adjustments he has made, including lowering his hands and reducing his pre-swing movement. Questions have centered on Beckham's ability to remain at shortstop since he signed, and he saw action at second base for the first time in 2012. He has a plus arm, but his average speed and decent range and hands are better suited for second. Beckham is knocking on the door to the big leagues, something further evidenced by his addition to the 40-man roster during the offseason. His ticket appears to be developing into an offensive-minded second baseman, though the Rays have a greater need at shortstop.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #7 prospect in 2012
  The No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft and recipient of a Rays draft-record $6.15 million bonus, Beckham lost luster by hitting .263/.332/.371 in his first three pro seasons. He boosted his stock in 2011, making solid progess in the upper minors at age 21 and appearing in his first Futures Game. His .736 OPS was his career best, and his 12 homers matched his previous career total. Beckham took a step forward offensively once he improved his pitch recognition and started swinging at more strikes. While he must continue to refine his approach, he didn't give away as many at-bats and showed hints of plus power potential. He also displayed more mental and physical maturity and looked more confident. Most scouts say that Beckham won't be able to stay in the middle infield because he has a thick lower half and fringy speed and range. He does have an above-average arm and has gotten more consistent making routine plays, but he's probably going to wind up on an infield or outfield corner. While Beckham remains a work in progress, he could still develop into a big league regular. He'll spend most of 2012 in Durham and may start to see time at positions other than shortstop.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #15 prospect in 2011
  After seeing Beckham in action in 2010, multiple scouts said it would be impossible to know by watching him that he was the No. 1 overall pick and the recipient of a then-record $6.15 million bonus in 2008. Though that may be harsh, his former ceiling as an all-around shortstop no longer appears realistic. He's still young and spent last year in high Class A at age 20, producing mixed results. A minor wrist injury slowed him early in the season and he hit just .212 in the first half. He rebounded to bat .285 after the all-star break, but he also went homerless as his slugging percentage declined to .352 from .370 in the first half. Beckham still has plus bat speed and the strength in his hands and wrists to eventually hit for above-average power, but he also swings through too many high-80s fastballs. Beckham was in better shape last year, yet is a fringe-average runner at best. He has more than enough arm to play shortstop and cut his errors from 43 in 2009 to 25 last year, but his hands aren't soft and he doesn't have the athleticism to remain at the position. Third base is a better option, though it will place greater demands on his bat. The Rays will remain patient with Beckham, and manager Joe Maddon has said he likes Beckham's overall ability and approach to the game. He should make the move up to Double-A in 2011.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #6 prospect in 2010
  The first overall pick in the 2008 draft and the recipient of a then-record $6.15 million bonus, Beckham made steady improvements during a solid if unspectacular first full season in pro ball. After rating as the No. 1 prospect in Rookie-level Appalachian League in his pro debut, he ranked fifth in South Atlantic League last year. His older brother Jeremy played with him at low Class A Bowling Green. Despite hitting only five homers in 2009, Beckham has the raw strength and hitting ability to be one of the better power hitters in the system. He has plus bat speed with strong hands and wrists, and he uses his muscular legs to his advantage while staying back on the ball. Defensively, he has fluid actions, soft hands and a strong arm. He's a good baserunner with average speed but doesn't project as a basestealer. He has an outstanding work ethic. Several scouts believe Beckham's athleticism has started to decline because his lower half is getting bigger, which could necessitate a move to third base or an outfield corner. He made 43 errors last season, many because of inaccurate throws caused in part by lackadaisical footwork. His aggressive approach is a long way from being ready for the majors. The Rays' present plan is to keep Beckham at shortstop, and third base isn't much of an option with Evan Longoria already in Tampa Bay. Beckham will spend 2010 in high Class A at age 19.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #2 prospect in 2009
  Beckham emerged on the showcase circuit during the summer of 2007 and was MVP of the Aflac Classic. He carried that momentum into his senior season of high school and emerged as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft. After signing quickly for $6.15 million, he rated as the Rookie-level Appalachian League's top prospect while playing alongside his brother Jeremy (a 17th-round pick) in the Princeton infield. An outstanding athlete with easy actions and great instincts, Beckham has all the tools to be a stellar shortstop. He has strong, quick wrists and hands, and good plate discipline. The Rays believe he'll develop 20-homer power with his plus bat speed and the leverage in his swing. Defensively, he has fluid actions, good range, soft hands and a strong arm. His speed is good but not great, though he runs the bases very well. Beckham should make more consistent contact once he irons out some mechanical issues in his swing. His arm slot and footwook need more consistency, particularly so he can get behind the ball on throws. Beckham's a complete package at shortstop, yet has a chance to improve as he smoothes out his rough spots. The Rays' long-term answer at shortstop, Beckham will begin 2009 at their new low Class A Bowling Green affiliate.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked International League #10 prospect in 2012
  Beckham will never escape the fact that he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft, selected ahead of Buster Posey, among others. He has yet to have a true breakout season and took a step back in 2012 with a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a drug of abuse. Neverthless, his plus bat speed and raw power continue to make him a prospect. Beckham will need to be more selective to get to his power, and his pitch recognition skills remain modest. He made some adjustments during the course of the season, quieting his hands in his setup. He earned praise from Durham's coaching staff for putting in extra work but still reverted to his old setup at times, with his hands higher and more pre-swing movement. Exclusively a shortstop in his first pro season, Beckham began playing second base this year. Most scouts agree his hard hands and modest range at short make him a better fit on the other side of the bag. He's an average runner whose plus arm should make him an asset on the double-play pivot.
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  Ranked South Atlantic League #5 prospect in 2009
  While Beckham was the Appy League's top prospect last year because of his athleticism, his prospect status dropped slightly this year because he bulked up and may not stay at shortstop in the future. At the plate, Beckham stays back on the ball, uses his legs well and takes advantage of offspeed pitches up in the zone. With his plus bat speed and strong wrists, he projects to hit .300 with 20 home runs in the big leagues. He's a solid-average runner with good instincts, but not a basestealer. Beckham is an average defensive shortstop, though he committed 43 errors this season. He has soft hands and fluid actions but is inconsistent on throws to first, as he tends to rely on his arm instead of getting behind his throws. Most managers agreed that he'll likely have to move to third base, and some saw him as a left fielder or first baseman.
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  Ranked American League #1 prospect in 2008
  Beckham joined Josh Hamilton (1999) and Joe Mauer (2001) as recent No. 1 overall picks who spent their first pro summers in the Appy League. Beckham didn't dominate, but observers still were impressed enough by his raw tools and up-the-middle profile to regard him as the league's top prospect. After signing for a $6.15 million bonus, Beckham reported to Princeton in late June and hit just .167 without an extra-base hit in his first 12 games. He improved both offensively and defensively in subsequent months, though, as his natural enthusiasm and off-the-charts makeup took over. An outstanding athlete, Beckham has plus hitter's hands, solid pitch recognition and the bat speed to turn around quality fastballs. As he matures, he also should add average power, though he's already solidly built and doesn't project to be much more than an average runner. Beckham is an above-average defender with major league actions at short. His arm is above-average and he gets rid of the ball quickly. As the season wore on, he improved in getting his feet behind him on throws to first base.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #67 prospect in 2010
• Ranked Baseball America's #28 prospect in 2009

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: As the first overall selection in the 2008 draft, Beckham always will be compared to Buster Posey, who went four picks later to the Giants. Since signing for $6.15 million, Beckham has made a rocky ascent through the minor leagues. He has hit just .256/.314/.389 in Triple-A during the last two seasons and was suspended for 50 games in 2012 after testing positive a second time for a drug of abuse. Scouting Report: While he hasn't developed as quickly as hoped, Beckham continues to maintain plus bat speed that generates raw power to all fields. His lack of consistency at the plate comes from his below-average pitch recognition and refusal at times to shorten his swing in order to make contact. The Rays are encouraged by adjustments he has made, including lowering his hands and reducing his pre-swing movement. Questions have centered on Beckham's ability to remain at shortstop since he signed, and he saw action at second base for the first time in 2012. He has a plus arm, but his average speed and decent range and hands are better suited for second than shortstop. The Future: A favorite of Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon, Beckham is knocking on the door to the big leagues. His ticket appears to be developing into an offensive-minded second baseman, though the Rays have a greater need at shortstop.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft and recipient of a Rays draft-record $6.15 million bonus, Beckham lost luster by hitting .263/.332/.371 in his first three pro seasons. He boosted his stock in 2011, making solid progress in the upper minors at age 21 and appearing in his first Futures Game. His .736 OPS was his career best, and his 12 homers matched his previous career total.
  
  Scouting Report: Beckham took a step forward offensively once he improved his pitch recognition and started swinging at more strikes. While he must continue to refine his approach, especially with two strikes, he didn't give away as many at-bats and showed hints of plus power potential. He also displayed more mental and physical maturity and looked more confident. Most scouts say that Beckham won't be able to stay in the middle infield because he has a thick lower half and fringy speed and range. He does have an above-average arm and has gotten more consistent making routine plays, but he's probably going to wind up on an infield or outfield corner.
  
  The Future: While Beckham remains a work in progress, he's beginning to convince some of his critics that he's capable of developing into a big league regular. He'll spend most of 2012 in Durham and may start to see time at positions other than shortstop.