Post by Fish Troll on Jun 19, 2008 20:40:42 GMT -5
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Tim Beckham used one word to describe how it felt to walk into the Tampa Bay Rays clubhouse and spot a jersey with his name on the back hanging in a locker next to established major leaguers.
"Sweet," the talented high school shortstop from Griffin, Ga., said Thursday.
The Rays were all smiles, too, after taking just two weeks to sign the No. 1 pick in this month's baseball draft.
Beckham agreed to a contract that includes a $6.15 million signing bonus. He will join older brother Jeremy -- a second baseman selected in the 17th round -- in beginning his pro career with Tampa Bay's Rookie League affiliate in Princeton, W.Va.
"This is what I've been wishing for my whole life. It's a dream come true," Beckham said prior to slipping on a uniform and taking batting practice before the Rays played the Chicago Cubs at Tropicana Field.
Both sides thought speedy negotiations were imperative so Beckham could get started in the minor leagues as soon as possible. The Rays also had the No. 1 pick last year, but didn't sign David Price until mid-August -- too late for the hard-throwing left-hander to pitch in the minors last season.
Beckham's minor league deal is worth less than the $11.25 million, six-year major league contract that Price signed in 2007.
Price, currently at Class-A Vero Beach, received a $5.6 million signing bonus and is guaranteed $8.5 million as part of his deal.
"We did as much homework as we could," Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. "Getting him out and playing right away was incredibly important to us, and everything we got back was that it was important to them as well."
"Sweet," the talented high school shortstop from Griffin, Ga., said Thursday.
The Rays were all smiles, too, after taking just two weeks to sign the No. 1 pick in this month's baseball draft.
Beckham agreed to a contract that includes a $6.15 million signing bonus. He will join older brother Jeremy -- a second baseman selected in the 17th round -- in beginning his pro career with Tampa Bay's Rookie League affiliate in Princeton, W.Va.
"This is what I've been wishing for my whole life. It's a dream come true," Beckham said prior to slipping on a uniform and taking batting practice before the Rays played the Chicago Cubs at Tropicana Field.
Both sides thought speedy negotiations were imperative so Beckham could get started in the minor leagues as soon as possible. The Rays also had the No. 1 pick last year, but didn't sign David Price until mid-August -- too late for the hard-throwing left-hander to pitch in the minors last season.
Beckham's minor league deal is worth less than the $11.25 million, six-year major league contract that Price signed in 2007.
Price, currently at Class-A Vero Beach, received a $5.6 million signing bonus and is guaranteed $8.5 million as part of his deal.
"We did as much homework as we could," Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. "Getting him out and playing right away was incredibly important to us, and everything we got back was that it was important to them as well."
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/06/19/rays.beckham.ap/index.html
