Thursday was a big day for Jefferson High School graduate Chris Beck.
That was the day the Major Leagues came knocking.
The Cleveland Indians drafted Beck in the 35th round, pick number 1,055 of the draft.
Chris Beck was tapped by the Cleveland Indians last Thursday in the 35th round of the MLB draft. Photo by Brandon Reed
Jefferson’s Beck drafted by Cleveland Indians
Beck was the first player from Jefferson to be drafted.
Beck said he didn’t even know about the big news until he checked his Facebook page.
“Somebody wrote me a message that said congratulations, and I had no earthly idea what they were talking about,” he said. “So I checked MLB.com, and saw that I had been taken by the Indians.”
Beck said the reality of the news didn’t sink in for a while.
“I was sitting there with my friends, and said ‘I just got drafted to the MLB draft.’ My dad said ‘You’re 18 years old. This doesn’t happen every day to every other 18 year old.’ It was a moment that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
It’s the latest in what’s been a big year for Beck. In 2009, he was part of a Dragons team that went 22-5 and picked up the Region 8-AA title in their first year in that region.
Beck went 8-2 for Jefferson, with 118 strike outs in 61 1/3 innings pitched. He was also a formidable opponent for all comers at the plate, batting .338, including eight home runs on the year and 26 RBIs.
“In one of our first conversations I ever had with Chris he said he wanted to be a professional baseball player,” said Jefferson High School baseball coach Tommy Knight. “It’s great to see how his hard work has paid off for him. Even if he chooses to go to Georgia Southern and play he will get another chance to play pro ball later on in his career. We are very happy for him.”
Beck signed last November to play for Georgia Southern.
He said he was “90 percent sure” that he will be attending Georgia Southern unless something comes up.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald.
Beck said he didn’t even know about the big news until he checked his Facebook page.
“Somebody wrote me a message that said congratulations, and I had no earthly idea what they were talking about,” he said. “So I checked MLB.com, and saw that I had been taken by the Indians.”
Beck said the reality of the news didn’t sink in for a while.
“I was sitting there with my friends, and said ‘I just got drafted to the MLB draft.’ My dad said ‘You’re 18 years old. This doesn’t happen every day to every other 18 year old.’ It was a moment that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
It’s the latest in what’s been a big year for Beck. In 2009, he was part of a Dragons team that went 22-5 and picked up the Region 8-AA title in their first year in that region.
Beck went 8-2 for Jefferson, with 118 strike outs in 61 1/3 innings pitched. He was also a formidable opponent for all comers at the plate, batting .338, including eight home runs on the year and 26 RBIs.
“In one of our first conversations I ever had with Chris he said he wanted to be a professional baseball player,” said Jefferson High School baseball coach Tommy Knight. “It’s great to see how his hard work has paid off for him. Even if he chooses to go to Georgia Southern and play he will get another chance to play pro ball later on in his career. We are very happy for him.”
Beck signed last November to play for Georgia Southern.
He said he was “90 percent sure” that he will be attending Georgia Southern unless something comes up.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald.
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