AFTER A rough stretch during the first two weeks in July, former Jefferson pitcher Chris Beck is back on a roll in Rookie League ball.
Beck — a second-round draft pick by the Chicago White Sox — has surrendered just one earned run in his last three appearances for the Great Falls (Mont.) Voyagers.
The 6-3 right-hander, who starred for Georgia Southern, is now 2-1 with a 4.00 ERA in eight games (including two starts) with the Voyagers. He’s struck out 16 batters in 18 innings.
Great Falls is the Chicago White Sox’s Rookie League affiliate in the Pioneer League, which operates in the Rocky Mountain region.
After giving up three earned runs each in a pair of two-inning appearances July 6 and July 11, Beck responded with three shutout innings in a July 16 start against Idaho Falls.
Six days later, Beck threw three innings and surrendered an unearned run against Ogden in picking up his second win of the year.
Then, this past Saturday, Beck allowed two runs — only one of which was earned — in a four-inning start against Missoula.
Beck pitched Jefferson from 2006-2009, setting school records in career ERA, saves and strikeouts before moving on to Georgia Southern.
As an Eagle, Beck was the Southern Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player in 2011. He went 9-5 that year with a 3.23 ERA as he helped the Eagles win the SoCon title.
He then went 6-7 with a 3.91 ERA for Georgia Southern this past spring before getting picked up by the White Sox in the second round with the 76th pick overall.
Beck is the only Jefferson High School alum to ever be selected in the Major League Baseball draft.
