A pair of Beckhams lead way in MLB draft for Georgia players

A pair of Beckhams made a splash today in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft.

Tim Beckham, who recently graduated from Griffin High, was taken No. 1 by the Tampa Bay Rays, while Gordon Beckham, a junior shortstop for the University of Georgia, was picked eighth by the Chicago White Sox.

Meanwhile, Stephens County pitcher/third baseman Ethan Martin was picked 15th by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The hard-throwing righthander helped the Indians to the finals of the Class AAA playoffs this season before falling to Cartersville.

Georgia pitcher Joshua Fields also went at No. 20 to the Seattle Mariners.

The announcement that Tim Beckham was the top pick was only a formality. He already had a Rays No. 1 jersey, complete with his name, on the back of his chair before commissioner Bud Selig made the choice public.

``I found out this morning when they gave me a call,'' Tim Beckham said, adding ``I was about to do a back flip in my room.''

Tim Beckham established himself as the top prep prospect in the nation with solid performances at last summer's high school showcase events and hit .500 with five homers, 31 RBIs and 16 stolen bases this season as Griffin High advanced to the state finals.

Meanwhile, Gordon Beckham, who attended the Westminster School before heading to Athens, has long been ranked as a top 10 prospect. He broke Georgia's school record for home runs in a season this year with 24, while helping the Bulldogs to the Southeastern Conference title and a berth in the NCAA Super Regionals.

Gordon Beckham was also a unanimous choice by SEC coaches as the conference Player of the Year and earned first-team All American honors.

As the draft continues numerous prospects from the state of Georgia -- including several athletes from Hall County -- wait to see if they will receive a call from a Major League club.