The A’s went the high school route with their sixth pick in the first round of Monday’s draft, taking center fielder Austin Beck out of Lexington, N.C.
Seen by some scouts as a five-tool player, Beck hit .590 for North Davidson High after missing playing time with a torn anterior cruciate ligament last year.
Beck, 18, is a right-handed batter with exceptional bat speed and above average foot speed and has enough of a throwing arm that some projections have him winding up in right field by the time he makes it to the big leagues.
“It’s a great experience,” Beck told MLB.