The Braves agreed to terms with veteran infielder Gordon Beckham on a one-year, $1.25 million contract Wednesday, hoping the Atlanta native and former University of Georgia standout can bounce back from a career-worst season and give then a platoon option or at least depth at a couple of positions.
Beckham, 29, hit .209 with six homers, a .275 on-base percentage and a .332 slugging percentage in 237 plate appearances for the White Sox last season, the second year in a row that he posted career-worst offensive statistics.
The Westminster High School graduate never developed into the star he was projected to be after being selected by the White Sox in the first round (eighth overall pick) of the 2008 draft out of UGA. Beckham is a .242 career hitter with a .304 OBP, 69 home runs and a .676 OPS in seven seasons, including 14 homers with a career-best 63 RBIs as a 22-year-old rookie in 2009.
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