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What should the Detroit Tigers expect from the No. 1 pick?

By Rob Low

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 03: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros hits a home run in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park on May 3, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 03: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros hits a home run in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park on May 3, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL – JULY 25: Second baseman Tim Beckham #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays gets the forced out at second base on Seth Smith of the Baltimore Orioles then turns the double play to first base for the out on Welington Castillo during the second inning of a game on July 25, 2017 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – JULY 25: Second baseman Tim Beckham #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays gets the forced out at second base on Seth Smith of the Baltimore Orioles then turns the double play to first base for the out on Welington Castillo during the second inning of a game on July 25, 2017 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

2008: Tim Beckham (Tampa Bay)

Tampa Bay had the top pick in the draft for the second straight year in 2008. The year before, they had selected former Detroit Tigers lefty David Price. This time around the Rays selected Tim Beckham, a high school shortstop from Georgia.

Beckham had scouts drooling with his blend of power, speed, and ability to play a premium position. He spent most of the summer of 2008 at rookie-level Princeton, and finished the year hitting .246 over the course of 48 games.

Unsurprisingly because of his age, the Rays took their time in bringing him along through their system. Beckham never gave the club much reason to accelerate his timeline either, posting solid yet unimpressive numbers throughout the minors.

In September of 2013, Beckham made his major league debut, and went 3-for-7 in five games. He did not make it back to Tampa Bay until 2015, when he made the Opening Day roster for the first time.

Beckham’s tenure with Tampa Bay came to an end at last year’s trade deadline, when he was sent to Baltimore for minor leaguer Tobias Myers.

He finished the season strongly for the Orioles, hitting .306 with 10 homers over the final 50 games. Combining his numbers from his two stops in 2017, Beckham notched career-highs across the board offensively.

However, 2018 has started poorly for Beckham. Through 23 games, he was hitting just .179 before landing on the disabled list with a groin injury late last month.

The Verdict

Beckham surely hasn’t lived up to the billing of a potential franchise player, but his end to 2017 in Baltimore showed he can be a productive big leaguer. Not a franchise player, but I’d take his selection over the Detroit Tigers Matt Anderson pick any day.

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