Gordon Beckham has done nothing but hit since the White Sox made him the eighth overall pick in last year's draft. He reported to Single-A after receiving a $2.6 million signing bonus, hit .310/.365/.500 in 14 games there, and then finished his first pro season by batting .394/.468/.652 in the Arizona Fall League.
Beckham was one of the big stories in White Sox camp this spring as a non-roster invitee, as the University of Georgia product hit .270/.325/.568 with two homers, five doubles, and two steals in 16 games before eventually being sent to Double-A while the White Sox went with Chris Getz as their starting second baseman.
Making the transition from college shortstop to pro second baseman is perhaps the main reason why Beckham wasn't a serious candidate to crack the Opening Day roster, but he's off to a .306/.382/.510 start through a dozen games at Double-A and it may be time for the White Sox to start planning for his call up.
However, the obvious move of installing Beckham at second base doesn't make a ton of sense right now given that Getz has done a fine job there thus far, and calling him up won't fix the White Sox's problems in center field unless they're willing to do some serious shifting around defensively (Beckham back to shortstop, Alexei Ramirez to center field, for instance).
For now Beckham will keep refining his defense at second base while knocking around Double-A pitchers and the White Sox will likely wait to see if Getz falters before turning to their long-term answer at the position. Either way, Beckham is just about MLB-ready less than one year after being drafted and Chicago has an awfully nice double-play combination on the horizon assuming Ramirez snaps out of his current funk.
Beckham is most often compared to Michael Young, and if things go smoothly he profiles as a .280-.300 hitter with 20-homer power, good plate discipline, and plus defense up the middle. Ozzie Guillen has been searching for a leadoff man this season and Beckham would be a fit in that role while his power develops, so there's a strong chance he'll be in Chicago for good by the All-Star break regardless of whether Getz continues to hold his own.
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Does he like to steal bases? Is he successful at it? Will they call him Becks like the Brits call their Beckham?
Does he like to steal bases? Has he been successful at it? Will they call him "Becks" like the brits call their Beckham?
Err...umm...the problem with this is Beckham has been playing SS in Birmingham. I've had the pleasure of catching a couple of games and actually meeing him once. Nice guy. But he hasn't been refining anything at 2B this year.
I would guess the transition from SS to 2B won't be that much of an issue though. But it would lead me to think 2B isn't in the plans this season, anyway. No?
Err…umm…well, the only problem is he hasn’t been refining anything at 2B. He’s been playing SS in Birmingham. I’ve had the pleasure of catching a couple games and even meeting him once. Nice guy. His walk-up song is “I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love”…which made me an instant fan, pretty much.
Now, as far as the SS/2B thing goes…I don’t suppose it’s that big a deal going from SS to 2B, but it would seem to me they’d be playing him at Second if they actually planned on using him at Second. For this year, anyway. No?
He's played second base in three straight games.
Only to see if Nix can play Ss and be a utility player for the sox
Beckham is playing SS for Birmingham not "refining his defense at second base"
Josie's on a vacation far away
Come around and talk it over
So many things that I wanna say
You know I like my girls a little bit older
I just wanna use your love tonight
I don`t wanna lose your love tonight
I ain`t got many friends left to talk to
No one`s around when I`m in trouble
You know I`d do anything for you
Stay the night, but keep it under cover
I just wanna use your love tonight, oh
I don`t wanna lose your love tonight
fantastic walk up music
He doesn't seem to be doing that well on SS defense, leading the team with 4 errors.