| Tim Beckham | |
|---|---|
 Beckham with the Orioles in 2017 | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: (1990-01-27)January 27, 1990 (age 35) Griffin, Georgia, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 19, 2013, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 24, 2022, for the Minnesota Twins | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .246 |
| Home runs | 63 |
| Runs batted in | 199 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Timothy Lamar Beckham (born January 27, 1990) is an American former professionalbaseballinfielder. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theTampa Bay Rays,Baltimore Orioles,Seattle Mariners, andMinnesota Twins. Beckham was thefirst overall selection of the2008 MLB draft by the Rays, and received asigning bonus of $6.15 million. He made his MLB debut in 2013, and played for the Rays through 2017, when they traded him to Baltimore. He played for the Orioles in 2017 and 2018, for Seattle in 2019, and for Minnesota in 2022.
Beckham, the youngest son of Jimmy Beckham, grew up in the Crestview Heights neighborhood of Griffin, Georgia. He often played baseball in his yard with his older brothers Stephen and Jeremy. During his younger years Beckham was involved infootball,basketball andbaseball. However, he quit baseball while in grade school to focus on football and basketball. Encouraged by his brothers, he got back into baseball. Beckham was the shortstop for the Griffin junior varsity baseball team as an eighth grader, and the varsity team atGriffin High School in 2005 as a freshman.[1] His older brother, Jeremy had gone on to play baseball atGeorgia Southern University and was eventually drafted by the Rays in the2008 Major League Baseball draft.
In his freshman year for the Griffin High varsity team, Beckham batted seventh in the order and hit 14 home runs on the season.[2] In his first at-bat in 2006 as a sophomore, Beckham hit a home run. For the season hebatted .405, hitting five home runs, threetriples and sixdoubles. He also added 22runs batted in andstole 15 bases.[2]
During his junior season at Griffin, Beckham batted .512, hitting nine doubles, six triples, and six home runs. He also added 39 RBIs and stole 20 bases.[1] Following the season, Beckham competed in the World Wood Bat Association 17-Under Summer Championship, inCincinnati, Ohio. Beckham finished the tournament rated as the #1 prospect out of over 2,000 participants. Later that year, in August 2007, Beckham took home the MVP Honors at the Aflac Classic inSan Diego, California. Beckham concluded the summer of 2007 having batted .409, hitting nine home runs, 15 doubles, eight triples, and 32 stolen bases, against some of the best competition in America.
Beckham committed to theUniversity of Southern California during his senior year,[3] but maintained his intentions of entering the2008 MLB Draft. Through 24 games in his senior season, Beckham batted .500, with five home runs, nine doubles and three triples. Beckham also added 31 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.[4]
Beckham was rated by publications such asBaseball America as the top high school baseball prospect in the nation.[1] Beckham was described as a potentialfive tool player at themajor league level. Beckham ran the60-yard dash in 6.33 seconds, andbench pressed 200 pounds (91 kg).[5]
TheTampa Bay Rays chose Beckham with thefirst overall selection of the2008 MLB Draft. Beckham signed with the Rays on June 19, receiving asigning bonus of $6.15 million.[6] He played with thePrinceton Rays of theAppalachian League, theHudson Valley Renegades, theBowling Green Hot Rods of theMidwest League, and theCharlotte Stone Crabs of theFlorida State League.
In 2011, Beckham was selected to theAll-Star Futures Game along with fellowTampa Bay Rays prospectsHak-Ju Lee andMatt Moore.[7]
In May 2012, Beckham was suspended 50 games for a second positive test for a "drug of abuse".[8]
After the conclusion of the 2012 season, Beckham was added to the 40-man roster to be protected from the upcoming Rule 5 draft. He was optioned to AAA Durham on March 15, 2013.
On September 18, 2013, the Rays promoted Beckham to the majors.[9] Beckham made his MLB debut on September 19, as apinch hitter against theTexas Rangers. In his only at-bat, he recorded his first career MLB hit, a single, off of Rangers pitcherTanner Scheppers.[10] He had 3 hits, all singles, in 7 at-bats. He scored once and drove in a run.
After the 2013 season, Beckham tore hisanterior cruciate ligament. He missed the 2014 season.[11]
On April 11, 2015, Beckham hit his first major league home run.[12] For the season, he batted .222/.274/.429.[13]
In 2016, Beckham played a backup utility man role, mainly playing SS, but also seeing time at all four infield positions. Beckham was demoted to Triple-A Durham on August 31, 2016, after not hustling home from second base during a game against theBoston Red Sox atFenway Park.[14] He finished the 2016 season batting .247/.300/.434, with 5 home runs and 16 RBIs in 64 games.[15]
In spring training in 2017, the Rays reported that Beckham had been working on playing in the outfield in an attempt to give him more playing time and a more important platoon role.[16]
Due to an injury to newly acquired shortstopMatt Duffy, Beckham was able to see an increased amount of playing time at shortstop and even started the opening day game. Beckham started in a majority of the Rays games. This led Beckham to a minor break out. Batting .266/.303/.422 with 8 home runs, 26 RBIs through the first two months. Even with his improved play, Beckham was expected to relinquish his starting role upon Duffy's return.[17] Upon the acquisition of defensive standoutAdeiny Hechavarria, Beckham shifted over to second base[18] He committed 20 errors for the season, the second-most among all American League players.[13]
The Rays dealt Beckham to theBaltimore Orioles forTobias Myers just before the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31, 2017.[19] He made his Orioles debut the next night, going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. On August 5, in a 5–2 victory over the Tigers, Beckham homered for the third straight game. His home run was the 10,000th in Orioles' franchise history.[20] Through his first five games with the Orioles, Beckham was 13 for 20, an average of .650, with three home runs, five RBIs, and an OPS of 2.000. Beckham was named AL Player of the Week.[21]
Beckham went on a 12-game hitting streak to begin his career with the Orioles, before going 0-for-4 on August 13. During the hitting streak, Beckham slashed .531/.549/.939 with seven doubles, two triples, three home runs, nine RBIs and 14 runs scored.
Beckham collected 50 hits in his first month with the Orioles, the second most in team history (Cal Ripken, 53). He hit in 27 of the 29 games and slashed .394/.417/.646 with ten doubles, two triples, and six home runs, while driving in 19 runs and scoring 27 times.
Prior to the 2018 MLB season, the Orioles announced that Beckham would be moved to third base whileManny Machado would be moved to shortstop. Beckham was placed on the10-day DL on April 25 with a left groin strain,[22] and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 13.[23]
On January 10, 2019, Beckham signed a one-year contract worth $1.75 million with theSeattle Mariners.[24] He was named the Mariners' Opening Day shortstop, making his debut against theOakland Athletics on March 20, 2019, inTokyo, Japan. Beckham hit safely in 9 of his first 10 games to begin the season, in which he hit .410/477/.846 with 4 home runs and 11 RBI during that span.[25] As a result, he was awarded theAmerican League Player of the Week honors for the opening week of 2019.[26] On August 6, 2019, Beckham received an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive forStanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance, in violation of Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.[27] This effectively ended Beckham's season, finishing with a .237/.293/.461 (100 wRC+) slash line with 15 home runs and 47 RBIs.[28] On December 2, 2019, Beckham was non-tendered by Seattle and became a free agent.[29]
After going unsigned for the 2020 season, on October 29, 2020, Beckham signed a minor league contract with theChicago White Sox organization.[30] Beckham spent the 2021 season with the Triple-ACharlotte Knights. He played in 45 games, hitting .279 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI's. He became a free agent following the season.
On February 5, 2022, Beckham signed a minor league contract with theMinnesota Twins.[31] After missing the first two months of the 2022 season with a strained leftquadriceps, Beckham played for theSt. Paul Saints.[32] The Twins promoted him to the major leagues on July 30.[33] On August 26, Beckham was designated for assignment. He cleared waivers and became a free agent on August 31.
