Gordon Beckham

Any hope of Beckham, the eighth overall pick in 2008, developing into an MLB regular is long gone. Now, it's just a question of whether he will get another opportunity in the big leagues beyond a September callup. Beckham toiled at Triple-A for most of his age-30 season, only joining Seattle for the final month, logging 18 plate appearances. His numbers at Triple-A left a lot to be desired, as he walked at just a 5.6 percent clip while slugging below .400, resulting in an 81 wRC+. He decided to return to the Mariners on another minor-league deal and will likely spend the majority of his time on the farm once again.

Beckham started the season with the Braves, seeing regular playing time all over the infield during the first half of the season. The former first-round draft pick continued to struggle at the plate, producing a paltry .217/.300/.354 slash line in Atlanta before being dealt to the Giants in the final week of the regular season in exchange for cash considerations. He only saw five plate appearances with San Francisco and did not record a hit. The only positive metric was his 9.3 percent walk rate. The infielder posted a poor 79 percent contact rate with little power to speak of -- simply put, he isn't getting it done offensively at the major league level. After signing with the Giants in February, he'll compete for a reserve infield spot during spring training, although that's about where his ceiling lies unless injuries strike San Francisco's regulars.

A year after dealing him to the Angels, the Sox brought Beckham back on a one-year contract to serve as the team’s backup at second and third. He served as more than a backup once Conor Gillaspie fizzled, but he quickly yielded the hot corner to some of the team's younger bats. Beckham’s offensive production sank to a career low, and his batting average might have finished below .200 were it not for a relatively hot September. His infield defense is adequate, but he has an OPS+ of 80 over the past three seasons. After signing a one-year deal with the Braves in the offseason, Beckham appears likely to open the year in a reserve role, serving as the top backup behind Adonis Garcia at third base, while also seeing occasional starts at second base.

Beckham was traded to the Halos in the midst of yet another disappointing season, as he tallied a .598 OPS in .390 at-bats with the White Sox prior to the deal in August. His bat came alive in limited time with the Angels, as he notched a .268/.328/.429 line with two home runs in 29 games. Beckham primarily saw time in the infield as a backup last season, but he was able to steal time from David Freese when the third baseman was mired in an 0-for-20 skid that carried into September. While waiver wire hunters will always be checking for signs that the 28-year-old is finally realizing his potential, Beckham figures to serve merely on the short end of a platoon at third base with Conor Gillaspie to start the season after returning to the White Sox on a one-year deal.

Beckham enjoyed his finest season in 2013 since his rookie campaign, but that's not saying a whole lot. He missed more than six weeks of action in April and May with a broken wrist, and he returned strong from the injury. He posted a .341 OBP over June and July before settling on .322 for the season. However, his power disappeared, as his five home runs and .105 ISO were both well below the expectations he set with 16 home runs in 2012. His spurts of success have earned him a bit longer of a leash as the White Sox's regular second baseman heading into 2014, and it could make him an attractive property on the trade market.

After four years as a pro, it might finally be safe to say we know who Beckham is. He is a low-average, low-OBP hitter who receives a power boost from his home park. He had a drastic home/road split in 2012, with a .763 OPS with 12 home runs in Chicago versus .572 OPS and four homers on the road. His glove has improved enough at second to provide him with an ample amount of job security in his role as the White Sox's second baseman, but it looks like he will never replicate the .270 batting average from his rookie season.

It seemed as if Beckham took another step beck in 2011, and he could not blame those struggles on a defensive position switch. In fact, defense was probably the strongest part of Beckham's portfolio in an otherwise forgettable season. He struck out in nearly 20 percent of his at-bats after showing solid plate discipline in his first two seasons, and his slugging percentage dipped from .460 in 2009 to .337 in 2011. Time spent with new hitting coach Jeff Manto might get Beckham right, in which case he would be a prime candidate for the No. 2 spot in the lineup. If not, he's looking at another season plagued by inconsistency at the plate and a regular place in the bottom third of the order.

There were times during the 2010 season when Beckham was probably the worst hitter in the White Sox's lineup. For example, he did not have an extra-base hit during May, which was also a month that saw a .159 batting average. However, there was a stretch over July and August when he hit a combined seven home runs and posted an OPS on the good side of .900. His season ended with a hand injury in September, but that should not be a concern heading into 2011. It is unclear how much Beckham's transition from third base to second had to do with his early-season struggles, but he will remain at second for the foreseeable future.

Well that was quick. The White Sox only gave Beckham a total of 233 minor league at-bats between 2008 and 2009 before calling him up in early June. He quickly became one of the team's more consistent hitters, hitting .300/.374/.469 in his first 47 games, and he eventually settled into the No. 2 spot in the lineup. His average fell off a bit toward the end of the season, but he still hit six home runs over the season's final month and walked nearly as often as he struck out (11:14 BB:K in September, 41:65 on the season). His biggest challenge heading into 2010 will be learning his third position in as many years. He spent his college and minor league days at short, was forced to third base when he was called up and will shift to second following the team’s acquisition of Mark Teahen. Second base may be a better fantasy fit for his current power level (28 doubles, 14 home runs in 378 at-bats) as long as the transition doesn't affect his bat.

The eighth pick in last June's draft is a polished college product who will come quickly for an organization lacking in hitting prospects and middle infielders. Beckham is a safe bet to eventually be a .280/15/80/80/10 guy in the majors, and could very well hit for more power and average. He doesn't have the upside to reach the Hanley Ramirez/Jose Reyes/Jimmy Rollins stratosphere, but he could be capable of reaching that next tier, particularly if his power translates at the major league level. One other issue to be cognizant of is what position he ends up playing - White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen seems wedded to Alexei Ramirez sticking at shortstop.