Austin Beck

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Athletics #12 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: The A's drafted Beck sixth overall in 2017, banking on his athleticism despite a torn ACL that wiped out his senior showcase summer. After a solid if unspectacular first full season in 2018 at low Class A Beloit, a quad injury limited him to 85 uneven games at high Class A Stockton in 2019. Beck was not invited to the alternate training site in 2020 but did accrue at-bats during the fall at instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Beck boasts impressive athleticism across the board, highlighted by his potential plus raw power, plus arm strength and plus speed, the latter of which allows him to play an above-average center field. Beck has lightning-fast hands at the plate, which can sometimes work against him when he struggles to keep his bat in the strike zone long enough to make contact. Beck made adjustments to his swing in search of more launch angle which, combined with subpar pitch recognition, led to a 34% strikeout rate with Stockton in 2019.
  
  THE FUTURE: Beck hasn't lived up to his draft status, but he has consistently been young for his level and didn't have a long track record against top pitching as an amateur. He's in need of consistent at-bats after a lost 2020.
• 
  Ranked Athletics #5 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Beck suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament prior to his senior season and had a limited track record against good competition at his small North Carolina high school, but the Athletics couldn't say no to his dripping athleticism and drafted him sixth overall in 2017. After a decent first full season, Beck battled a recurring quad strain that limited him to 85 games in 2019 and suffered through a difficult year at high Class A Stockton that included a 34-percent strikeout rate.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Beck's athleticism stands out among the best of his peers. He is a plus runner, has plus arm strength and draws consistent reviews as an above-average to plus defender in center field. His bat, however, is a question mark. He flashes above-average raw power but is a below-average hitter who struggles to get to it. He frequently over-swings while chasing fastballs up and breaking stuff low and away, producing gobs of strikeouts and poor quality contact when he connects. Beck has plenty of bat speed, leaving some evaluators hopeful he'll hit once he refines his approach and improves his natural feel at the plate.
  
  THE FUTURE: Beck will be 21 all of next year and still has time to figure out his swing. He may repeat high Class A Stockton before moving on to Double-A.
• 
  Ranked Athletics #5 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: A torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee cost Beck time on the showcase circuit as a rising high school senior, but it didn't cost him in the draft. The Athletics drafted him sixth overall in 2017 as the first prep bat off the board. Because he had less track record with wood bats, Beck struggled at the outset of his pro career before finding his footing, but he led the low Class A Midwest League with 146 hits in 2018, his full-season debut.
  
  Scouting Report: With a more sound hitting approach and a bit more discipline, Beck could develop into a plus hitter with a strong defensive profile. A tendency to chase up in the zone, put early-count pitches in play and pop the ball up on the infield restricted his hit tool at Beloit, but still he hit .296 as a 19-year-old in a pitcher's league. Beck shows above-average power in batting practice but hasn't accessed it in games because his swing emphasizes line drives rather than loft. Strength and bat speed won't be a barrier to unlocking his power. Beck is a plus runner who can go get the ball in center field with plus range and plus athleticism. He keeps runners honest with a plus arm.
  
  The Future: If Beck shows power, he could develop into an impact center fielder, but early in his pro career he is viewed by some scouts as a future second-division starter or extra outfielder. He can begin to alter perceptions with a big year in the high Class A California League in 2019.
• 
  Ranked Athletics #6 prospect in 2018
  Beck tore the ACL and meniscus in his left knee as a junior in high school, but rebounded with a brilliant senior year in which he hit .590 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs in 28 games. The A's drafted Beck with the sixth overall pick in June and signed him for $5.3 million to pass up a North Carolina commitment. Beck didn't enjoy much success in the Rookie-level Arizona League after signing, hitting .211 with a 29 percent strikeout rate. Beck lacks polish at the plate, but the A's love his combination of bat speed and plus raw power. He can hit the ball out of any park to all fields. He has the plus speed to play center field and be a threat on the basepaths. His plus arm rounds out an enticing athletic profile. For all his tools, Beck's stint in the AZL revealed a tendency to chase pitches, and he needs to improve his plate discipline significantly as he moves through the system. Still a teenager, Beck figures to begin 2018 in either extended spring training or low Class A Beloit depending on his camp performance. An explosive, strong athlete, Beck has the ability become a mainstay in the Oakland outfield in a few years, but only if he can lock in his plate discipline to fulfill his power potential.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #9 prospect in 2017 draft
  As an underclassman, Beck was a known commodity for Carolina area scouts thanks to travel ball and his own high school team. Then Beck tore his left knee's ACL just as his junior year came to a close and missed the entire summer and fall as a result. When scouts went to go see Beck hit in the cages during the winter, he was a different animal. The North Carolina recruit used his time away to fill in his frame, and his plus-plus bat speed attracted upper-level scouts early in the spring. Decision-makers didn't get to see Beck hitting with a wood bat against good high school pitching on the showcase circuit, but he's shown present all-fields power and puts on a show in batting practice. He is a plus runner and has a plus arm, giving him the potential to become an impact defender in center field, where his reads and route-running remain raw. Beck has moving parts to his swing, with a bit of a leg kick and some back-elbow drive to his load. In spurts he'll show a more selective approach and sound understanding of the strike zone, but he will also become more aggressive at times and can sometimes struggle to barrel breaking pitches. He is a passionate player with a fiery competitive nature to his game. Beck is a hard worker and comes from a humble, small-town upbringing. He is a high-risk, high-reward prospect whose tools compare to some of the best players in the game. If he proves that he can get to those tools consistently, Beck has the potential to develop into an all-star.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Arizona Complex League #8 prospect in 2017
  A gifted athlete drafted sixth overall from a small North Carolina high school, Beck entered pro ball with high expectations. He missed the summer showcase season prior to his senior year after tearing the ACL in his left knee, and his relative inexperience showed when he reported for his first pro assignment. Facing better velocity than he had seen in high school, Beck started pressing and over-swinging early in the AZL season. But he started making more consistent contact as the season progressed, batting.253/.354/.468 in the second half. "He's making adjustments and catching up to speed," Athletics manager Webster Garrison said, "and he's looking good out there." An explosive athlete and true center fielder, Beck has plus-plus bat speed and consistently puts on a show during batting practice. He still needs to work on using the whole field and hitting the ball where it's pitched, but he made progress late in the season. He needs more reps in the outfield, but showed good instincts to go with plus speed and at least an above-average arm.

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The A's drafted Beck sixth overall in 2017, banking on his athleticism despite a torn ACL that wiped out his senior showcase summer. After a solid if unspectacular first full season in 2018 at low Class A Beloit, a quad injury limited him to 85 uneven games at high Class A Stockton in 2019. Beck was not invited to the alternate training site in 2020 but did accrue at-bats during the fall at instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Beck boasts impressive athleticism across the board, highlighted by his potential plus raw power, plus arm strength and plus speed, the latter of which allows him to play an above-average center field. Beck has lightning-fast hands at the plate, which can sometimes work against him when he struggles to keep his bat in the strike zone long enough to make contact. Beck made adjustments to his swing in search of more launch angle which, combined with subpar pitch recognition, led to a 34% strikeout rate with Stockton in 2019.
  
  THE FUTURE: Beck hasn't lived up to his draft status, but he has consistently been young for his level and didn't have a long track record against top pitching as an amateur. He's in need of consistent at-bats after a lost 2020.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The A's drafted Beck sixth overall in 2017, banking on his athleticism despite a torn ACL that wiped out his senior showcase summer. After a solid if unspectacular first full season in 2018 at low Class A Beloit, a quad injury limited him to 85 uneven games at high Class A Stockton in 2019. Beck was not invited to the alternate training site in 2020 but did accrue at-bats during the fall at instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Beck boasts impressive athleticism across the board, highlighted by his potential plus raw power, plus arm strength and plus speed, the latter of which allows him to play an above-average center field. Beck has lightning-fast hands at the plate, which can sometimes work against him when he struggles to keep his bat in the strike zone long enough to make contact. Beck made adjustments to his swing in search of more launch angle which, combined with subpar pitch recognition, led to a 34% strikeout rate with Stockton in 2019.
  
  THE FUTURE: Beck hasn't lived up to his draft status, but he has consistently been young for his level and didn't have a long track record against top pitching as an amateur. He's in need of consistent at-bats after a lost 2020.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The A's drafted Beck sixth overall in 2017, banking on his athleticism despite a torn ACL that wiped out his senior showcase summer. After a solid if unspectacular first full season in 2018 at low Class A Beloit, a quad injury limited him to 85 uneven games at high Class A Stockton in 2019. Beck was not invited to the alternate training site in 2020 but did accrue at-bats during the fall at instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Beck boasts impressive athleticism across the board, highlighted by his potential plus raw power, plus arm strength and plus speed, the latter of which allows him to play an above-average center field. Beck has lightning-fast hands at the plate, which can sometimes work against him when he struggles to keep his bat in the strike zone long enough to make contact. Beck made adjustments to his swing in search of more launch angle which, combined with subpar pitch recognition, led to a 34% strikeout rate with Stockton in 2019.
  
  THE FUTURE: Beck hasn't lived up to his draft status, but he has consistently been young for his level and didn't have a long track record against top pitching as an amateur. He's in need of consistent at-bats after a lost 2020.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Beck suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament prior to his senior season and had a limited track record against good competition at his small North Carolina high school, but the Athletics couldn’t say no to his dripping athleticism and drafted him sixth overall in 2017. After a decent first full season, Beck battled a recurring quad strain that limited him to 85 games in 2019 and suffered through a difficult year at high Class A Stockton that included a 34-percent strikeout rate.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Beck’s athleticism stands out among the best of his peers. He is a plus runner, has plus arm strength and draws consistent reviews as an above-average to plus defender in center field. His bat, however, is a question mark. He flashes above-average raw power but is a below-average hitter who struggles to get to it. He frequently over-swings while chasing fastballs up and breaking stuff low and away, producing gobs of strikeouts and poor quality contact when he connects. Beck has plenty of bat speed, leaving some evaluators hopeful he’ll hit once he refines his approach and improves his natural feel at the plate.
  
  THE FUTURE: Beck will be 21 all of next year and still has time to figure out his swing. He may repeat high Class A Stockton before moving on to Double-A.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Beck suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament prior to his senior season and had a limited track record against good competition at his small North Carolina high school, but the Athletics couldn't say no to his dripping athleticism and drafted him sixth overall in 2017. After a decent first full season, Beck battled a recurring quad strain that limited him to 85 games in 2019 and suffered through a difficult year at high Class A Stockton that included a 34-percent strikeout rate.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Beck's athleticism stands out among the best of his peers. He is a plus runner, has plus arm strength and draws consistent reviews as an above-average to plus defender in center field. His bat, however, is a question mark. He flashes above-average raw power but is a below-average hitter who struggles to get to it. He frequently over-swings while chasing fastballs up and breaking stuff low and away, producing gobs of strikeouts and poor quality contact when he connects. Beck has plenty of bat speed, leaving some evaluators hopeful he'll hit once he refines his approach and improves his natural feel at the plate.
  
  THE FUTURE: Beck will be 21 all of next year and still has time to figure out his swing. He may repeat high Class A Stockton before moving on to Double-A.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Drafted sixth overall in 2017, Beck scuffled through much of his first pro summer in the Rookie-level Arizona League before adjusting in August and in instructional league. He looks like a different player this year in the Midwest League, where he has hit near .300 while showcasing plus defense in center field, a double-plus arm, plus speed and emerging all-fields power.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Beck tore the ACL and meniscus in his left knee as a junior in high school but rebounded with a brilliant senior year in which he hit .590 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs in 28 games. The Athletics drafted Beck with the sixth overall pick in 2017 and signed him for $5.3 million to pass up a North Carolina commitment. Scouting Report: Beck didn't enjoy much success in the Rookie-level Arizona League after signing, hitting .211 with a 29 percent strikeout rate. He lacks polish at the plate, but the A's love his combination of bat speed and plus raw power. He has the plus speed to play center field and be a threat on the basepaths. His plus arm rounds out an enticing profile. For all his tools, Beck's stint in the AZL revealed a tendency to chase pitches, and he'll need to improve his plate discipline significantly as he moves through the system. The Future: Beck figures to begin 2018 in either extended spring training or at low Class A Beloit, depending on his camp performance. An explosive, strong athlete, he has the ability become a mainstay in the Oakland outfield, but only if he can lock in his plate discipline to fulfill his power potential.