SN: Beckham is AL's top rookie

The “official” Rookie of the Year announcement won’t be made until November, but White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham obviously made a positive impression on his peers in his debut season.
Beckham on Tuesday was voted the American League’s top rookie by Sporting News, as selected by a panel of 338 major-league players.
Beckham, 23, came up from Class AAA Charlotte on June 4 and batted .270 in 103 games. He led AL rookies in doubles (28), RBI (63) and extra-base hits (43) and finished second in home runs (14) and on-base percentage (.347).
In 2008, Beckham was the White Sox’ first-round draft pick (No. 8 overall) out of the University of Georgia.
"We saw a guy who was going to be able to play shortstop, but also with the ability to move over to second or third,” Sox director of amateur scouting Doug Laumann told SN. “And that's what he ended up having to do this year. Offensively, we thought he would be a high-average guy with average big-league power and the ability to knock in a lot of runs. He could take the ball the other way, but if the ball was on the inner half, he was able to turn on it and drive the ball. He is willing to learn and wants to get better."
SN named Philadelphia Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ National League Rookie of the Year. The left-hander was 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA in 35 games (23 starts).
The Baseball Writers Association of America announces its award winners next month, and Beckham has to contend with 20-year-old Detroit Tigers starter Rick Porcello (14-9, 3.96 ERA) if he hopes to become the White Sox’ first Rookie of the Year since Ozzie Guillen in 1985.