Rays promote SS prospect Tim Beckham from AAA

Mar 5, 2012; Port Charlotte, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Tim Beckham (29) signs autographs for the fans before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Charlotte Sports Park. The Orioles defeated the Rays 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s been a long time coming, but according to at least one report, the Tampa Bay Rays have promoted one of their top prospects for the stretch run.

According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay’s top shortstop prospect, Tim Beckham, has been added to the 40-man roster and promoted from triple-A Durham to the big leagues. Beckham hasn’t quite lived up to the lofty status that comes along with being the #1 overall pick in the MLB draft (as he was in 2008), but he could be a highly useful piece down the stretch.

In 522 plate appearances over 122 games, Beckham has a .342 on-base percentage, but his likely value in the big-leagues would come in the field and on the basepaths. If Tampa Bay wasn’t firmly in the race for the AL Wild Card, it would be a surprise to see this type of prospect called up this late in September, but we are at the point where the organization can (and arguably, should) be pulling out all of the stops to pursue the playoffs.

The jury is firmly out on Beckham, who has never hit more than 15 home runs or stolen more than 25 bases at any level of the minors, but this is a bit of an all-in move for Tampa Bay.

We’ll see how it plays out.

Home/MLB