Checking in on Gordon Beckham

These Kids Are Alright is FanHouse's look at minor league prospects who could have a fantasy impact in the near future. Pay attention, we gave you Mat Gamel and Nolan Reimold the day before both were promoted.

The White Sox are scuffling right now, and one of the several reasons is the lack of production from their middle infielders. Chris Getz (.231 average, .590 OPS), Brent Lillibridge (.162, .451) and Jayson Nix (.241, .806, has been playing some outfield) aren't cutting it. Alexei Ramirez has yet to get on track (.215, .527) either, though they should be patient with him. Still, the White Sox have an option -- they can see if Gordon Beckham is ready.

You might remember Beckham as the star player from Georgia in the College World Series. He was drafted last June in the first round (eighth overall) by the White Sox and hit .310 with an .865 OPS in Class A last season. He had 3 home runs and 8 RBI in only 63 at-bats. This season, Beckham's playing double-A ball for the Birmingham Barons (Michael Jordan's former squad!).

He's not setting the world on fire, but he's playing productive baseball. The 22-year-old is hitting .279 with 2 home runs and 14 RBI. He's also managed 14 doubles and scored 17 times in his 29 games and has a nice .817 OPS. An item of concern could be the 7 errors he's committed thus far in 2009. That may have to take a backseat at some point, though, because the White Sox are last in the AL in runs scored. They are only producing better at second base than two teams and only three are worse at short.

About three weeks ago, Ozzie Guillen was asked about the possibility of promoting Beckham. Things didn't sound good.

"This kid should play a full season down there," Guillen said of the Sox' top prospect. "If you see Beckham in the big league, we are in trouble. I want this kid to be a real big-league player. I don't want him to come here and fill up a spot, and then go back to the minor leagues."

Many fantasy sites are concentrating on the first part. And why not? He pretty much said Beckham won't be getting the call this year. Look closely at the last sentence, though. Guillen basically said Beckham isn't getting the call until they are ready to hand him an everyday job. If things continue on the path they're currently headed, the White Sox might as well do so. Plus, the easiest way for Guillen to get the media off his back about Beckham is to tell them he's not getting the call for the entire season.

Realistically, Beckham's not getting the call anytime soon. In AL-Only fantasy leagues and smaller keeper leagues, though, he should certainly be on your radar (in large keeper leagues and ones with minor league spots he should already be owned). If he gets hot and the White Sox continue to falter -- especially with their offense from the middle infield -- it's not completely out of the question for him to be promoted faster than Guillen would care for.