Tim Beckham's start in single A

but generally not referred to as Single-A. Nothing big, just clarifying things.

You’re right in saying his swing mechanics need work. This was apparent before the draft. However his wrists are amazing. Very few people have the ability to snap their wrists like he does. He does not have Ben Zobrist speed either. He’s blazing fast. Not CC or Upton mind you, but definitely plus big league speed. Zobrist does not have plus big league speed. Beckham is a 60-65 runner (on the scouting scale that goes from20-80. 60 is considered big league plus and is significantly above-average).

One more thing, .924 fielding percentage is not good at all. Now, that’s not to say it’s a concern, 18 year olds aren’t finished products and I have almost no doubts about his ability to stay at SS, he will. But that’s not a good fielding percentage. From all accounts, he does have excellent range and more than enough arm strength to be an above-average defender at SS.

On the jersey, you can’t get an official jersey with his name on it because he’s not a big leaguer and not in the union. You could customize a MLB jersey, but there is no way of knowing what number he’ll be when he gets to the majors because he’s not on the 40 man roster and hasn’t been assigned a number yet.

I’m confused…what do the Elizabethtown Twins have to do with Beckham, other than the fact that he’s playing against them?

Anyway, I know Zobrists stats and the scouting report. Beckham projects to steal 30+ bases at the big league level. Zobrist has never stolen more than 16 at any level, ever. Zobrist is not fast. He’s an average runner by big league standards.

And as for his bad eye, please don’t look at rookie ball stats and make judgments about a players ability to do anything. It’s a short-season, therefore a small sample size, usually a players first time away from home, having to adjust to guys who regularly throw 90+mph for the first time in their life. It’s a big jump from high school. And he’s currently making the adjustment. He’s been hitting a lot better lately. Not to mention they are completely rebuilding his swing.

At this point, we’re trusting the scouts who universally said he’s going to be a great player. He’s got all the tools, bat speed (because of those amazing wrists), speed, defensive potential, arm strength. He’s going to be a Top-25 prospect in all of baseball. He’s a special player.

Stolen bases (I assume that’s what you were talking about when you told me to look up Zobrist’s stats) are not a good judge of speed, but rather base running ability. Sure it takes speed to be truly great at stealing bases, but Lance Berkman is on pace to steal over 20 bases and he’s not even close to having above-average speed, he’s just a good base runner. Speed does not equal good base running.