Tim Beckham

An April groin injury cost Beckham 53 games and likely contributed to his .206/.254/.291 first-half line. He rebounded after the break, launching 10 homers while posting a decent .441 SLG. For a middle infielder, he's rarely delivered with stolen bases, and dips in batted-ball metrics (30.5 Hard%, down from 39.1%, 20.4 LD%) forced him to settle for a .282 BABIP -- 83 points lower than 2017. The injury deserves blame for some of that, but after another disappointing year on the field, the clock is ticking for the 2008 first overall pick. At least he gained eligibility at third base, and perhaps he'll reach a new level with proper guidance. The 29-year-old just delivered a .782 OPS, 22 homers and six stolen bases two years ago. He signed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with Seattle and is expected to compete with J.P. Crawford for the starting job at shortstop.

Beckham earned the "late bloomer" tag with his performance in 2017. He was especially good after being traded to the Orioles at the deadline, hitting 10 homers with a .368 wOBA and 130 wRC+ in his final 50 games, although he hardly ran under manager Buck Showalter and that is unlikely to change given the O's stole just 32 bases as a team last season. Strikeouts were still a problem, with Beckham fanning nearly 30 percent of the time, and he doesn't walk much at all, but he made up for it with consistent hard contact; Beckham's 39.1 percent hard-hit rate ranked 23rd among qualified hitters. Unfortunately, Beckham fell short of 20 appearances at second base, so he's doesn't have dual eligibility in most leagues entering 2018. The plate skills are the big concern, but Beckham will have an extended opportunity to build on last season's production and will likely serve as the O's leadoff man to open the year.

Beckham struggled once again to make contact in his sophomore season, striking 67 times in 64 games -- his strikeout rate saw a slight bump to 31.2 percent while he managed to make contact at only a 66 percent clip. His maturity also continued to be an issue, as he was sent down for good on Aug. 31 after a baserunning error. On the plus side, his hard contact rate saw a significant bump to 36.1 percent, and Beckham was able to rip off 22 extra-base hits in 215 plate appearances. That tally included an impressive five triples, but the 26-year-old's speed has nevertheless failed to translate into appreciable stolen base production throughout the years. Beckham only attempted three steals at the big league level in 2016, swiping two bags, and his 22 stolen bases back in 2010 at the High-A level remains his career high. He'll have to battle Nick Franklin for time behind the Rays' starting middle infielders this spring.

The former top overall draft pick (yeah, that happened) got his first good exposure to the major leagues in 2015, and he flashed some of the tools that led to that decision back in 2008. Beckham flashed some big power in moments during the season and ended up with a .207 ISO. There were times when he flew around the bases and scored on plays others would not have made. Then, there were all of the other moments. He was awful against right-handed pitchers, made several baserunning gaffes such as being picked off on third base in a 1-0 game, and was at best erratic in the field defensively. The acquisition of Brad Miller will likely relegate Beckham to the short side of the shortstop platoon, which makes him an intriguing end game play in AL-only leagues, but that’s where the intrigue stops.

Recovering from a torn ACL, Beckham played in just nine rehab games before a 15-game stint at Triple-A Durham to finish 2014. The results weren't great, but the sample size was simply too small to be meaningful. Arguably, Beckham's best full season in the minor leagues came with Durham in 2013 (.276/.342/.387), but it will be interesting to see if the Rays keep the former No. 1 overall pick in the organization heading into 2015. Now 25, the days of expecting Beckham to become an above average regular have long passed, but he may be able to capably back up both middle-infield spots if the Rays want to keep him around as a bench player. Unless he proves to be a late bloomer to display game power, Beckham's most useful asset at this point will likely be his ability to chip in as a basestealer, but he's facing a crowded depth chart with the Rays having Yunel Escobar, Nick Franklin and Hak-Ju Lee at their disposal.

Beckham, a former No. 1 overall pick, spent the vast majority of the season with Triple-A Durham before making his first major league appearance as a September call-up. He has been labeled by some as a bust given his high draft status, but he showed improvement this past season with a .276/.342/.387 batting line and 17 stolen bases. He played 106 games at shortstop in Triple-A, but offers the versatility to play second base as well. Still only 24 entering the 2014 season, Beckham's right-handed bat and utility role in the field appeared to give the Rays a useful internal bench player to bounce between Triple-A and the majors. However, a torn ACL sustained during winter workouts could keep him out until deep into the second half, offering yet another obstacle in his development.

It's easy to write Beckham off after a couple of disappointing seasons in the low minors after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft. However, he held his own at Double-A Montgomery sporting a .275 batting with seven home runs and 15 stolen bases. While Beckham slightly improved his strikeout rate, he also saw an equal decline in his walk rate showing no significant improvement in his plate discipline. It is important to note he moved up a level from last season and was not overmatched by the pitching as expected by most prospects. He'll likely begin the year at Triple-A Durham with an eye on the big club for 2013 but could make a push as soon as this season given the Rays' shortstop options if he is able to produce at the plate. Given his age (22), there's still a lot of optimism that Beckham can develop into an everyday major league player.

The first overall pick from the 2008 draft hasn't lived up to lofty expectations as of yet. However, Beckham will only be 21 this season, which means there's still plenty of time for him to right the ship. Nothing from his High-A Charlotte numbers last season stick out, but there were a few encouraging signs. For the season, he showed better judgment at the plate, nearly doubling his walk rate from the previous season. He changed his approach at the plate during the season and didn't try to hit a home run in every at-bat. Beckham hit all five of his home runs in the first half but improved his OBP (.370) by 62 points during the second half. He still strikes out at a high rate (22.5 percent) and will get a chance to improve that likely starting the season at Double-A Montgomery. There's still a lot of upside here but he's going to have to produce and soon if he wants to retain prospect status.

Here is the future at shortstop for the Rays. Beckham spent 2009 playing for Low-A Bowling Green and batting .275 with five homers and 13 stolen bases over 491 at-bats. Scouts are enamored with his athleticism, but he's still a very raw player. Going forward he needs to improve his plate discipline (he struck out in 23 percent of his plate appearances) and prowess on the basepaths (13-for-23, 56 percent success rate). Still he's only 19 and has plenty of time to polish his skills. He should be owned in all keeper leagues with minors or deep benches.

Beckham, the first overall pick in the 2008 draft, did not enjoy a tremendous pro debut, but most of his fellow high school players began their careers in the GCL or AZL Leagues, a level below Beckham. The Rays have the luxury of not having to rush Beckham, who continues to draw raves from scouts for his overall long-term ability. He's still at least a few years away from the majors, however, he'll likely start 2009 at Low-A.