Former #1 Overall Tim Beckham Suspended for 50 Games

Durham Bulls shortstop Tim Beckham tested positive for “a drug of abuse” according to a MLB press release on the situation. This is the second time that Beckham has violated the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Beckham was having another underwhelming season this year hitting .204/.290/.278 before heading to the disabled list on April 20th. In his career Beckham was hitting .263/.330/.379.

Beckham was the first overall pick in the 2008 draft and has widely been considering a disappointment so far in his career. Players drafted in the first round after Beckham include: Pedro Alvarez, Eric Hosmer, Buster Posey, Justin Smoak, Jemile Weeks, and Brett Lawrie, just to name a few. The Rays have had a pair of notable cases in their past that involve their players and drug/substance abuse. Earlier this spring Matt Bush, also a #1 overall pick, was jailed because he ran over a motorcyclist while driving drunk. Bush had multiple noted incidents with alcohol abuse before joining the Rays in 2010. He had been with the Padres and Blue Jays before the Rays signed him to be a pitcher, instead of a shortstop. He was released by Toronto before he could play a game for violating their “zero tolerance policy” during spring training. Then there is the well documented and publicized case of the Rays 1999 #1 overall pick Josh Hamilton and his drug and substance abuse struggles.

Beckham is one of five players to be drafted first overall and never make it to the major leagues. The other four are: Gerrit Cole (Pirates-2011), the previously mentioned Matt Bush (Padres-2004), Brien Taylor (Yankees-1991), and Steven Chilcott (Mets-1966). Beckham will probably make the major leagues at some point as he is still just 22 years old. He has not, nor will he probably ever, live up to the expectations that go with being a first overall pick though.

Beckham will be elgible to play again on June 22nd when the Bulls return home to face the Buffalo Bison.

The Prospect Pulse is a review of prospect performances, good or bad, from the day before. Prospects are sorted by the league in which they play; their parent club is listed in parentheses.

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