James Beard

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #22 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Beard is a speed merchant of the highest order. He's the fastest player in the White Sox's system by a longshot, and he was the fastest player in his draft class overall. He also showed a modicum of power as an amateur, and the White Sox saw enough potential to take the time to let those tools grow into skills.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Because of the novel coronavirus pandemic and a minor leg injury from the instructional league, Beard didn't get much time to develop in 2020. At his best, Beard is an 80-grade runner with strong hands the White Sox believe will help him tap into double-digit home run power. He needs plenty of refinement as a hitter, though, and team officials saw some progress with his swing, but he'll need plenty more as he gets older. He also has to do a better job controlling the strike zone. His speed also serves him well in center field, where he projects to stick.
  
  THE FUTURE: Once the 2021 season begins, Beard could stick back in the Rookie-level Arizona League before moving to low Class A.
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #19 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Beard was the fastest player in a draft class that also included Jerrion Ealy, who opted to play running back at Mississippi rather than turn pro on the diamond. Beard added strength between his junior and senior seasons in high school and enough thump to hit 11 home runs. The White Sox bet on his solid swing and burner tool set in the fourth round and gave him $350,000 to sign.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Beard's carrying tool is his speed. He's a true 80 runner on the 20-to-80 scouting scale and has the best pure speed in the system. He swiped 25 bases in 26 tries in his draft year in high school and added nine more in 12 tries in the Rookie-level Arizona League upon turning pro. Scouts believe he has a sound enough swing with sufficient loft to project average hittability and perhaps 10-12 home runs. The elite speed, of course, will help him turn singles into doubles and doubles into triples. Beard's all-around game needs polish. His speed helps him overcome some circuitous routes in the outfield, and better instincts on the bases will turn him into a player who rarely gets caught trying to steal. He has the range and arm to stay in center field for the long term.
  
  THE FUTURE: The White Sox knew Beard was going to be a project and are willing to wait for him to develop into what they believe could be an elite table-setter in the big leagues. He's likely to return to the AZL in 2020.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #100 prospect in 2019 draft
  Beard is the fastest player in this year's draft class. He's an easy 80-grade runner, but this spring he showed he is more than just a speedster. Playing in the same area against similar competition as the speedy Jerrion Ealy, Beard showed a better bat as well as some strength in his hands and his swing. Compared to last summer, Beard carried a little more weight and significantly more strength this spring. His newfound strength paid off in improved bat speed and gap power--he hit 11 home runs in addition to 25 steals in 26 attempts. He has a chance to develop into an average hitter thanks to his speed and solid swing. Beard does not project as a power hitter by any stretch, but he has shown he's can run into 10-12 home runs in pro ball. Defensively, Beard outruns his mistakes for now, but he has potential to be an above-average center fielder with more experience to improve his routes and reads. Beard has some refining to do, but he has some of the best athleticism in the class.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Beard is a speed merchant of the highest order. He's the fastest player in the White Sox's system by a longshot, and he was the fastest player in his draft class overall. He also showed a modicum of power as an amateur, and the White Sox saw enough potential to take the time to let those tools grow into skills.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Because of the novel coronavirus pandemic and a minor leg injury from the instructional league, Beard didn't get much time to develop in 2020. At his best, Beard is an 80-grade runner with strong hands the White Sox believe will help him tap into double-digit home run power. He needs plenty of refinement as a hitter, though, and team officials saw some progress with his swing, but he'll need plenty more as he gets older. He also has to do a better job controlling the strike zone. His speed also serves him well in center field, where he projects to stick.
  
  THE FUTURE: Once the 2021 season begins, Beard could stick back in the Rookie-level Arizona League before moving to low Class A.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Beard is a speed merchant of the highest order. He's the fastest player in the White Sox's system by a longshot, and he was the fastest player in his draft class overall. He also showed a modicum of power as an amateur, and the White Sox saw enough potential to take the time to let those tools grow into skills.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Because of the novel coronavirus pandemic and a minor leg injury from the instructional league, Beard didn't get much time to develop in 2020. At his best, Beard is an 80-grade runner with strong hands the White Sox believe will help him tap into double-digit home run power. He needs plenty of refinement as a hitter, though, and team officials saw some progress with his swing, but he'll need plenty more as he gets older. He also has to do a better job controlling the strike zone. His speed also serves him well in center field, where he projects to stick.
  
  THE FUTURE: Once the 2021 season begins, Beard could stick back in the Rookie-level Arizona League before moving to low Class A.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Beard was the fastest player in a draft class that also included Jerrion Ealy, who opted to play running back at Mississippi rather than turn pro on the diamond. Beard added strength between his junior and senior seasons in high school and enough thump to hit 11 home runs. The White Sox bet on his solid swing and burner tool set in the fourth round and gave him $350,000 to sign.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Beard’s carrying tool is his speed. He’s a true 80 runner on the 20-to-80 scouting scale and has the best pure speed in the system. He swiped 25 bases in 26 tries in his draft year in high school and added nine more in 12 tries in the Rookie-level Arizona League upon turning pro. Scouts believe he has a sound enough swing with sufficient loft to project average hittability and perhaps 10-12 home runs. The elite speed, of course, will help him turn singles into doubles and doubles into triples. Beard’s all-around game needs polish. His speed helps him overcome some circuitous routes in the outfield, and better instincts on the bases will turn him into a player who rarely gets caught trying to steal. He has the range and arm to stay in center field for the long term. BA GRADE 45 Risk: High BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme
  
  THE FUTURE: The White Sox knew Beard was going to be a project and are willing to wait for him to develop into what they believe could be an elite table-setter in the big leagues. He’s likely to return to the AZL in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Beard was the fastest player in a draft class that also included Jerrion Ealy, who opted to play running back at Mississippi rather than turn pro on the diamond. Beard added strength between his junior and senior seasons in high school and enough thump to hit 11 home runs. The White Sox bet on his solid swing and burner tool set in the fourth round and gave him $350,000 to sign.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Beard's carrying tool is his speed. He's a true 80 runner on the 20-to-80 scouting scale and has the best pure speed in the system. He swiped 25 bases in 26 tries in his draft year in high school and added nine more in 12 tries in the Rookie-level Arizona League upon turning pro. Scouts believe he has a sound enough swing with sufficient loft to project average hittability and perhaps 10-12 home runs. The elite speed, of course, will help him turn singles into doubles and doubles into triples. Beard's all-around game needs polish. His speed helps him overcome some circuitous routes in the outfield, and better instincts on the bases will turn him into a player who rarely gets caught trying to steal. He has the range and arm to stay in center field for the long term.
  
  THE FUTURE: The White Sox knew Beard was going to be a project and are willing to wait for him to develop into what they believe could be an elite table-setter in the big leagues. He's likely to return to the AZL in 2020.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Beard is the fastest player in this year's draft class. He's an easy 80-grade runner, but this spring he showed he is more than just a speedster. Playing in the same area against similar competition as the speedy Jerrion Ealy, Beard showed a better bat as well as some strength in his hands and his swing. Compared to last summer, Beard carried a little more weight and significantly more strength this spring. His newfound strength paid off in improved bat speed and gap power--he hit 11 home runs in addition to 25 steals in 26 attempts. He has a chance to develop into an average hitter thanks to his speed and solid swing. Beard does not project as a power hitter by any stretch, but he has shown he's can run into 10-12 home runs in pro ball. Defensively, Beard outruns his mistakes for now, but he has potential to be an above-average center fielder with more experience to improve his routes and reads. Beard has some refining to do, but he has some of the best athleticism in the class.