Tampa Bay Rays Prospect Tim Beckham Suspended 50 Games

by John Sickels on May 1, 2025 9:44 PM EDT

Mar 5, 2012; Port Charlotte, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Tim Beckham (29) fields a ground ball during the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Charlotte Sports Park. The Orioles defeated the Rays 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

Tampa Bay Prospect Tim Beckham Fails Drug Test, Suspended 50 Games

The big news this evening is the suspension of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect Tim Beckham. The former number one pick has been suspended 50 games after testing positive for a "drug of abuse." This is the second time he has tested positive: minor leaguers receive a warning after the first positive test, then an automatic 50-game suspension for a second violation.

Beckham wasn't having a great year so far, hitting .204/.290/.278 with six walks and 13 strikeouts in his first 54 at-bats for the Triple-A Durham Bulls. This is weak stuff, granted the sample is small. Four years ago he was considered to be the best high school position player in the 2008 draft by many experts, but his pro career has been quite disappointing. Although he's shown sparks of power, he's never lived up to his potential offensively and is a career .263/.330/.379 hitter in 440 minor league games. His defense at shortstop has gradually improved, although many scouts project a move to second or third base due to limited range. Pre-season, he looked to me like a future utility player, although some analysts still believed he could develop into a regular.

He needs playing time more than anything and obviously this doesn't help. Beckham is saying all the right things about being sorry. I'm sure he is, and 22-year-olds do stupid things. But, well. . .here's the thing I don't understand about any of these cases. They get a freebee. How deep does your personal myth have to be to think, after the first positive test, that you won't get caught if you keep toking up?

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Read More: Tim Beckham (SS - TAM), Tampa Bay Rays

Comments

Ehhh

A 22 year old smoking pot is far from the worst thing in the world.

by YankeesEaglesWhat on May 1, 2025 9:58 PM EDT reply actions

it's pretty bad when it means he can't work for 2 months

by mrkupe on May 1, 2025 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I think this is the larger issue

Who cares if he smoked some pot? Except for the waste of 2 months of key development time. Pretty selfish move by the player IMO.

If you look at those UZR ratings or whatever

by dfa on May 2, 2025 1:37 AM EDT up reply actions

He signed a contract and he knew his responsibilities

I think his lack of maturity is pretty alarming.

Big Sexy

Follow KBR and Dewey on Twitter! @KBRandDewey

by King Billy Royal on May 2, 2025 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

alarming?

That seems pretty harsh. He’s a 22 yrold who got high. Does that alarm you?

If he was 30, I’d be a little more alarmed. Disappointing is probably a more appropriate word to describe this.

Wakefield
can close-just sayin
by calc on Apr 21, 2025 8:06 PM CDT reply actions

by SandalsNoPants on May 3, 2025 8:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes, it is alarming.

It is alarming that someone that has already failed a drug test once and knows the consequences of his actions but is too stupid or weak to stop doing something that is obviously going to get him suspended. They say pot isn’t addictive (not that I agree with that), so he should be able to stop doing it when his profession will be interrupted and possibly ended because of said use. The first time he failed the test was disappointing. This time is just stupid and alarming.

by Looney4baseball on May 3, 2025 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

I think you're overreacting.

Wakefield
can close-just sayin
by calc on Apr 21, 2025 8:06 PM CDT reply actions

by SandalsNoPants on May 3, 2025 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions

He is a 22 year old who is willing to get caught a SECOND time and cost himself a lot of money for a joint?

Yes, I find that alarming.

Big Sexy

Follow KBR and Dewey on Twitter! @KBRandDewey

by King Billy Royal on May 3, 2025 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I dont think many care that he smoked some pot.

But he knew the rules and still was not smart enough to stop doing what he knows will get him suspended if caught. That shows immaturity and a lack of caring about things though.

by Looney4baseball on May 3, 2025 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Ehhh

And some employee getting slapped with a suspension for breaking a known rule, regardless of how arbitrary it is, is far from the greatest injustice, too.

by AGuinness on May 1, 2025 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions

If he was in the bigs, he wouldn't even be suspended, though.

Pretty lame rule. The man’s keepin’ him down!

Wakefield
can close-just sayin
by calc on Apr 21, 2025 8:06 PM CDT reply actions

by SandalsNoPants on May 2, 2025 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Heh...

Is the man keeping him down, or simply keeping all the Big Leaguers “up” by letting them partake?

by AGuinness on May 2, 2025 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

The man is NEVER generous!

Wakefield
can close-just sayin
by calc on Apr 21, 2025 8:06 PM CDT reply actions

by SandalsNoPants on May 2, 2025 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Do we know what "Drug of Abuse" he was caught on?

50 games for Weed seems awfully stiff. Almost has to be a situation involving a much harder drug.

" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico lose a ball in the Sun? "

by aaronb on May 2, 2025 12:24 AM EDT reply actions

The particular drug doesn't matter

First positive test is a warning, second a 50 game suspension

by MjwW on May 2, 2025 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions

True in the minors, but not in the majors.

There is no prescribed testing for Drugs of Abuse in the major leagues, although certain things can happen if there’s evidence other than the tests that a player is getting into the bad stuff. However, there are things that are called Stimulants in the major-league drug-testing agreement, and are tested for, that are popularly termed “drugs of abuse,” notably meth and amphetamines in general. Does anybody know what the language is like for the minor-league program? Specifically, does meth count as a Drug of Abuse there rather than a banned Stimulant? For purposes of the suspension, it really doesn’t matter, but for purposes of understanding what hill Beckham has to climb once he’s past the suspension, it matters a great deal.

"That’s what a baseball player does: he uses the glove half of the time." -- Rick Horton regarding the DH.

by StanTheManFan on May 2, 2025 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions

I will argue that it absolutely matters what drug he is having trouble with

His future outlook is much better if this is a marijuana issue. If he’s failed multiple tests over cocaine or something along those lines. Then it obviously means there is a potential Josh Hamilton, Jeff Allison, Gooden/Strawberry situation here.

" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico lose a ball in the Sun? "

by aaronb on May 2, 2025 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Man, the Rays would be pretty upset

if he turned out to be like Hamilton, Gooden, or Strawberry. Good thing they got rid of that Hamilton guy when they did!

Wakefield
can close-just sayin
by calc on Apr 21, 2025 8:06 PM CDT reply actions

by SandalsNoPants on May 2, 2025 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Hamilton, Gooden and Strawberry had things that Beckham doesn't have though...

mainly production and talent. Gooden and Strawberry pissed away HOF careers and Hamilton may have done that as well with the years lost due to abuse. It’s really easy to be sarcastic, yet you left out Allison and all the others that failed due to hard drug abuse. Seems like you’ve never had to deal with someone that has had serious drug issues.

by Looney4baseball on May 3, 2025 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Are you saying Beckham has a serious drug issue?

Wakefield
can close-just sayin
by calc on Apr 21, 2025 8:06 PM CDT reply actions

by SandalsNoPants on May 3, 2025 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

You know what the other difference between those guys and Beckham is?

They’re crackheads.

Wakefield
can close-just sayin
by calc on Apr 21, 2025 8:06 PM CDT reply actions

by SandalsNoPants on May 3, 2025 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Sure

I was talking merely from a discipline point of view

by MjwW on May 2, 2025 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Start sipping whiskies, Tim.

by benhertz on May 2, 2025 4:43 AM EDT reply actions

It's just weed

And it’s just illegal.

Stupid people.

by tuna411 on May 2, 2025 6:18 AM EDT reply actions

American laws don't necessarily represent whats fair and equitable

consider until very recently interacial relationships were illegal in many states, the last of which came off the books in 1989.

Homosexuality is still illegal in three states.

smoking weed is harmless, has been proven not to be the feared “window” drug that the government claims, and is a bullshit law that most Americans could care less about

by ScottAZ on May 2, 2025 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

When something is illegal...

And against the rules at your job…And you’ve already been given a warning from your job…And you keep doing it anyway…And you get caught again…

then you are a moron and you deserve to be punished. There are lot’s of employment rules that really don’t hurt anybody. For example, would it really hurt anybody if an employee showed up for work every day in old sweats and a wifebeater instead of a suit and tie? If they are not in a position where they interact with the public and could cost the company business, then no it wouldn’t hurt anybody. You still can’t do it and your employer has every right to punish you if you repeatedly do it anyway even after being told to stop…

and the federal government says it’s illegal soooo…

Buried Treasure - As long as we're jumping to conclusions

by KentuckyPirate on May 2, 2025 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

convey

I do not think I conveyed my feelings properly.

I agree with ken.pir 100 %.

by tuna411 on May 2, 2025 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

by Looney4baseball on May 3, 2025 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Idiot.

by WrenFGun on May 2, 2025 7:15 AM EDT reply actions

Suspend 'em like Beckham

Sorry, couldn’t resist.

by Frayed Knot on May 2, 2025 9:14 AM EDT reply actions

I don't care if they told him not to watch tv

If a multi-million dollar career is on the line, you don’t do it. Sure, you’ve got a signing bonus, but with a shot a $400k/year you ought to give up even the most trivial of things…

Why, Albert?

by mateodh on May 2, 2025 9:54 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

+1

Perfectly stated.

"Hosmer right in between Carter and Alvarez…. what is this list based on? height?" -- okteds, visionary (1/28/10)

by criminal type on May 2, 2025 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

So true

And I think many, if not all, MLB teams probably have curfews. Sometimes, when curfew is broken, guys get benched or suspended (an NHL team did that to a player recently in the playoffs).

by AGuinness on May 2, 2025 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I think...

…we should stop telling other people how to live as long as they aren’t bothering anyone.

Most arguments are really about context.

by SheaWasBettor21 on May 3, 2025 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

AGREED.

Wakefield
can close-just sayin
by calc on Apr 21, 2025 8:06 PM CDT reply actions

by SandalsNoPants on May 3, 2025 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

The point is lack of judgment

It doesn’t matter in this context whether pot should or should not be legal. Personally I think it should be legalized, regulated, and taxed. I would not legalize other hard drugs.

But right now pot is illegal, and it is against the rules of minor league baseball, and he KNEW he would get suspended if he got caught again. The dope was more important to him than his career, and that is a bad sign regarding his maturity level.

by John Sickels on May 3, 2025 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

Did they ever actually say it was Marijuana?

The only reports I’ve seen say “Drugs of Abuse”.

" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico lose a ball in the Sun? "

by aaronb on May 3, 2025 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions

maybe he swallowed the evidence?

by pedrophile on May 3, 2025 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Pot isn't illegal everywhere ;)

For example you will never get charged with smoking a blunt in Canada. If you are an idiot and annoy a cop then you might get a fine. That’s about it.

by pedrophile on May 3, 2025 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

True but there is nothing more annoying than all the potheads on 4.20 day in Toronto

God I hate all those unemployed try hards.

Big Sexy

Follow KBR and Dewey on Twitter! @KBRandDewey

by King Billy Royal on May 3, 2025 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Lol

Just walking down Queen street and you can get a buzz. During the middle of the day.

by pedrophile on May 3, 2025 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Well said John

Big Sexy

Follow KBR and Dewey on Twitter! @KBRandDewey

by King Billy Royal on May 3, 2025 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

That's a bit judgemental for my taste.

We can definitely question his passion for the game, but I don’t think it’s fair to definitively say he has maturity problems. People are more than their baseball card.

A lot of people trash talked Ricky Williams. If you learn more about Ricky, you would find he’s an incredibly complex person (relatively speaking) with a lot of admirable qualities.

I don’t mind questioning his commitment to the game and how his attitude affects his value as a prospect. I think the character judgements based on extremely limited information create a bad precedence for the young, impressionable readers that visit this site.

Most arguments are really about context.

by SheaWasBettor21 on May 3, 2025 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Dope?

Really?

Wakefield
can close-just sayin
by calc on Apr 21, 2025 8:06 PM CDT reply actions

by SandalsNoPants on May 3, 2025 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Weed / Lack of judgement

I’m kind of on the fence on this one. On one hand whether pot is illegal or not he knows the rule and was dumb. It’s as simple as that.

On the other hand we have so many MLB DUI’s, even managers (or ex-managers) getting them. Players are always going for drinks. And yet someone can’t smoke weed.

If baseball came down hard on alcohol and it’s abuse then I’m ok with the other drug punishments. But they are making moral judgements on smoking weed and doing nothing on sometimes much more serious situations.

by pedrophile on May 3, 2025 3:29 PM EDT reply actions

booze

I agree with much of this…alcohol abuse is a much more serious social problem than pot use. It certainly destroys more lives than pot, and I would regard a player with a drinking problem as a serious risk.

However, again it goes back to Beckham being stupid and reckless after he got caught the first time.

by John Sickels on May 3, 2025 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Definitely a stupid thing for him to do, especially after already getting caught.

I really hope he saved some of his bonus money.

by pedrophile on May 3, 2025 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Why do we need to judge everyone?

It hurts his stock as a prospect. We don’t know the kid. Let’s leave it at that.

Most arguments are really about context.

by SheaWasBettor21 on May 3, 2025 7:24 PM EDT reply actions

For pot ?

Really. Lets just put him against the wall and shoot him. Keystone
Kops. This can’t be for smoking a joint. Let he who is with out fault throw the first stone.
Bring this man before Judge Snails. What is wrong with this country.

by Lil Jimmy on May 3, 2025 8:29 PM EDT reply actions