Haven't posted in a while on this thread so here comes an update *disclaimer; I still do not have a copy of MLB 15, money, am I right?*
Junior Beach was an 18-year old 2B prospect from Rancho Cucamonga, CA. He was selected in the first round of the 2014 Draft by the Minnesota Twins. He signed a contract was immediately assigned to the Double-A New Brittan Rock Cats.
In Double-A, Beach played 70 games and recorded 314 AB. He hit 7 HR, 13 2B and 10 3B while driving in 40 runs and scoring 49 runs himself all while hitting for a .369 avg. He stole 37 bases on 41 attempts, walked 8 times, struckout 17 times, and have an OPS of .924. Fielding wise, Beach was below average with a .968 fielding percentage. His season would be cut short by a broken ankle during his 70th game.
In 2015, Beach was given a chance to make the big club during Spring Training. He impressed the coaching staff and front office with his speed and contact to earn a bench spot with the Twins on the Opening Day roster. After a month and a half of pinch-hitting and spot starting, Beach was hitting below the Mendoza Line was sent down to Triple-A Rochester.
Beach would play just 30 games in Rochester. In that time he had 132 AB and hit for a .311 avg to go along with 1 HR, 9 2B and 1 3B with 18 RBI and 14 runs scored. He also swiped 13 bags on 15 attempts, walked 3 times and only stuckout 5 times. In the field he improved to a .980 fielding percentage. However, with incumbent starter Brian Dozier still above Beach on the roster, the Twins organization asked Beach if he would be open to playing shortstop at the Major League level. Beach reluctantly accepted as he was not familiar with that side of the diamond but the move allowed him to return to the big club in a starting role.
The 2nd act of Beach's rookie season with the Twins was decidedly better as he brought his batting average up to .230 with 5 HR, 29 RBI and 43 runs scored in 105 total games. He also contributed 13 2B, 4 3B, 24 BB and struckout 49 times. Beach also led the MLB in stolen bases as a rookie with 53 steals on 63 attempts. His fielding percentage regressed to .966 at shortstop. He received no accolades at the conclusion of the season.
2016 has been Junior Beach's coming out party. 91 games in the 2016 season has seen Beach hitting at a .274 clip with 13 HR, 37 RBI and 49 runs. He has 20 2B, 3 3B and has stolen an MLB-leading 48 bags on 56 tries. His walk numbers are up, 46 on the season, and his strikeouts are down to 39 on the season. His SLG/OBP/OPS line is .469/.373/.842. His fielding has been horrendous though as he is the worst defensive shortstop in baseball with a .935 fielding percentage. Still, Beach was elected to his first All-Star game (as Minnesota's lone representative) this season where he would get his first All-Star game hit off of Matt Cain.
Currently the Twins sit at a 32-64 record, good for worst in baseball and can be mostly contributed to poor pitching as the Minnesota pitching staff is ranked statistically last in every major pitching stat.
Minnesota still has 4 years of control on Beach, but there is growing rumors amongst the league that Beach is unhappy playing shortstop and could be acquired via trade soon.
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