Josh Beckett

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #1 prospect in 2002
  Beckett was the first high school righthander drafted as high as second overall since Bill Gullickson 20 years earlier. He opened 2001 at Class A Brevard County just hoping to stay healthy all season. He had a serious scare after two tours on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis in 2000. Offseason tests diagnosed a small tear in his labrum, fraying in his rotator cuff, biceps tendinitis and an impingement. Dr. James Andrews advised against surgery. Beckett worked hard to rehabilitate his shoulder in the winter, then came out firing. He dominated both the Florida State League and the Double-A Eastern League. His big league debut against the Cubs was one of the most anticipated Marlins games of the year. He delivered with six innings of one-hit ball, including a couple of epic showdowns with Sammy Sosa. Beckett capped his season with Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year award. Beckett has a prototypical power pitcher's build and a true No. 1 starter's repertoire and makeup. His four-seam fastball can touch 97 mph, but he'd rather pitch at 93-94 and get easy outs with his sinker. He has a dazzling 12-to-6 curveball and a plus changeup with excellent arm speed and deception. Beckett's delivery is smooth, making the ball get on top of hitters in a hurry. He has a maturity beyond his years, easily trading barbs with older players, writers and club officials and always looking people in the eye. He's good, knows he's good and would never think of shrinking from his apparent destiny. At the same time, he can be stubborn and too hard on himself. He's still learning to channel his emotions. He needs to get better at holding runners but won't sacrifice too much of his stuff toward that aim. Beckett is athletic but just an adequate fielder. He continues to mature physically and improve his conditioning. Barring a health setback, Beckett will open 2002 in the Marlins rotation. Club officials were ecstatic with his poise and performance during the callup. It won't be long before he fulfills the promise scouts have long predicted for him. In fact, that could happen in 2002.
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #1 prospect in 2001
  Beckett was taken No. 2 overall in 1999, the first high school righthander taken that high since Bill Gullickson 20 years earlier. After a summer-long holdout he received a four-year, $7 million big league contract just days before he was to begin classes at Blinn (Texas) Junior College, wisecracking his way through a press conference at the Astrodome. Beckett made two appearances at his first big league spring training, blowing away the Royals before getting rocked by the more experienced Braves. He returned to minor league camp to begin his professional climb at Class A Kane County, where he was named the Midwest League's No. 1 prospect. Beckett has a prototypical power pitcher's build and has been clocked as high as 97 mph, though he generally pitches at 93-94 mph. He has a devastating 12-to-6 curveball that breaks hard and late. The combination has drawn comparisons to a young Bert Blyleven. Though confident and bordering on cocky, Beckett is generally coachable and willing to learn. His changeup is developing, but the arm speed and command are there already. Two starts into his pro career, Beckett was shut down for seven weeks with shoulder tendinitis. The condition flared again in August, and the Marlins again proved cautious with their huge investment. Beckett attended instructional league but wasn't allowed to throw. He still needs to mature physically and improve his upper-body conditioning. Suddenly, there are doubts about his durability and deep-seated fears about the long-term health of his prized shoulder. He needs to work on finishing his pitches, and a little more emotional maturity wouldn't hurt either. Beckett had hoped to make it to Double-A by the end of last season. Now there's a good chance he won't get there until 2002. He'll get another crack at big league spring training, but this time the emphasis should be on staying healthy and fine-tuning his repertoire rather than trying to impress the brass. His contract calls for him to be in the big leagues for good by 2004, so there's time for development. Some believe the first health scare of his young career could work to his advantage. If he ever took his gift for granted before, he probably won't now.
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #2 prospect in 2000
  Beckett was drafted No. 2 overall in June, becoming the first high school righthander since Bill Gullickson (1979) taken that high. He signed a four-year, $7 million major league contract just days before he was to head to Blinn (Texas) Junior College. Beckett is the same age as many college sophomores. He has a prototypical power pitcher's build and has been clocked as high as 97 mph, though he topped out at 94 during instructional league. He has a devastating 12-to-6 curveball that breaks hard and late. Though extremely confident, Beckett is coachable and willing to learn. Beckett is inexperienced and needs to work on finishing his pitches. His changeup is still developing, but the arm speed and command are there already. He will begin 2000 at either low Class A Kane County or at high Class A Brevard County. All indications point to a rapid pass through the Marlins system.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Florida State League #1 prospect in 2001
  Beckett was restricted by shoulder ailments in his 2000 debut, but nothing stood in the 21-year-old righthander's way this year. He rapidly evolved into more than just a flamethrower by exhibiting pinpoint command of an overpowering three-pitch arsenal. Hitters couldn't sit on his explosive mid-90s fastball with his hammer curveball and much-improved changeup in the back of their minds. "He was head and shoulders above everybody," Daytona manager Dave Trembley said. "He was every bit as good as Kerry Wood when he was here. He could dominate any day." And not even Wood was named Minor League Player of the Year. Beckett limited FSL hitters to a .145 average while surrendering earned runs in only three of his 12 starts. "He's definitely a future No. 1 starter," Charlotte manager Darryl Kennedy said. "He's a complete pitcher."
• 
  Ranked Eastern League #1 prospect in 2001
  Beckett arrived in Double-A at midseason, preceded by massive amounts of hype. He then lived up to all expectations, winning eight of nine decisions with a 1.82 ERA that would have been the best in the EL if he had enough innings to qualify. He worked seven innings of a combined no-hitter against Binghamton. His fastball hit 97 mph and his curveball also overmatched hitters. In September, he won his first major league start as well as Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year award. "He's a lot like Nolan Ryan, but he's far more advanced than Nolan was with his breaking ball," said New Britain manager Stan Cliburn, who caught a young Ryan during his career with the Angels. "Back then, early in his career, Nolan would bounce his breaking ball. But Beckett can throw his breaking ball for strikes." Portland manager Rick Renteria compared his ace to a righthander he faced in the EL 18 years earlier. "Obviously, Josh is a little younger than Roger Clemens was when he was here," Renteria said. "But if I had to compare Josh to anybody, it would be Clemens."
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #1 prospect in 2000
  Beckett’s pro debut was eagerly anticipated after he missed all of last summer while negotiating a $7 million major league contract as the No. 2 overall pick in the 1999 draft. That excitement had to be put on hold, however. Beckett made three starts, went on the disabled list for six weeks with shoulder tendinitis, then came back for two months before being shut down for the season with more tendinitis. When he took the mound, it was easy to see why Beckett is considered the next link in the tradition of Texas power pitchers that extends from Nolan Ryan to Roger Clemens to Kerry Wood. He threw a consistent 95-96 mph, generating plenty of movement on the MWL’s best fastball with a very fluid delivery. Beckett’s hard curveball is an out pitch, and he made good progress with his changeup. "He’s just outstanding," said Fort Wayne manager Craig Colbert, whose club managed two hits in 7 2/3 innings against Beckett in July. "He’s going to be a No. 1 pitcher in the big leagues. He topped out at 97 against us, and he has a really nice curveball and very good poise."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #1 prospect in 2002
• Ranked Baseball America's #3 prospect in 2001
• Ranked Baseball America's #19 prospect in 2000

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Beckett was drafted No. 2 overall in June, becoming the first high school righthander since Bill Gullickson (1979) taken that high. He signed a four-year, $7 million major league contract just days before he was to head to Blinn (Texas) Junior College. Beckett is the same age as many college sophomores. He has a prototypical power pitcher's build and has been clocked as high as 97 mph, though he topped out at 94 during instructional league. He has a devastating 12-to-6 curveball that breaks hard and late. Though extremely confident, Beckett is coachable and willing to learn. Beckett is inexperienced and needs to work on finishing his pitches. His changeup is still developing, but the arm speed and command are there already. He will begin 2000 at either low Class A Kane County or at high Class A Brevard County. All indications point to a rapid pass through the Marlins system.
• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Beckett’s pro debut was eagerly anticipated after he missed all of last summer while negotiating a $7 million major league contract as the No. 2 overall pick in the 1999 draft. That excitement had to be put on hold, however. Beckett made three starts, went on the disabled list for six weeks with shoulder tendinitis, then came back for two months before being shut down for the season with more tendinitis. When he took the mound, it was easy to see why Beckett is considered the next link in the tradition of Texas power pitchers that extends from Nolan Ryan to Roger Clemens to Kerry Wood. He threw a consistent 95-96 mph, generating plenty of movement on the MWL’s best fastball with a very fluid delivery. Beckett’s hard curveball is an out pitch, and he made good progress with his changeup. "He’s just outstanding," said Fort Wayne manager Craig Colbert, whose club managed two hits in 7 2/3 innings against Beckett in July. "He’s going to be a No. 1 pitcher in the big leagues. He topped out at 97 against us, and he has a really nice curveball and very good poise."