Beckham back at 'natural' position

Drafted as a shortstop with the No. 8 overall pick in 2008, Gordon Beckham joined the White Sox as a third baseman the following year and later found a home at second base.

Back with the Sox this season after being traded to the Angels last August, Beckham has spent most of his time at third and is arguably the team's best defensive player.

In Wednesday night's game against the Astros, Beckham made his first career start at shortstop for the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

He also played short in Game 2 of a May 28 doubleheader at Baltimore.

"Growing up playing (shortstop), I definitely feel like it's my most natural position," Beckham said. "Not being there for years, when I went over there and took groundballs it felt normal. It feels comfortable doing that. I'm excited to play."

Beckham has the glove, the hands and the range to play short. His arm strength has always been the question mark.

"I guess we'll find out," said Beckham, who made a throwing error at Baltimore. "I know I have the arm to do it so it's a matter of footwork and knowing that I'm going to have to let it go instead of flipping it over there. It just depends on where the ball is hit."

Draft wrap:

The draft concluded on Wednesday, and the Sox wound up selecting 18 pitchers, four catchers, 10 infielders and six outfielders.

Of the 38 picks, 31 were from the college ranks. Seven of the White Sox' first 10 draft picks were collegiate pitchers.

"We're pretty good at developing college pitchers so we're going to stick with that for a little while," said Nick Hostetler, the Sox' assistant scouting director. "It was our goal to add a catcher and we did that as well. We're not going to shy away from our strength, especially in a deep draft like this with college pitching, so it made sense to go that way."

With their final pick (40th round), the White Sox "drafted" Joseph Reinsdorf, the grandson of chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

Joseph, a 5-foot-11, 148-pounder from New Trier, did not play high school baseball and is not going to sign with the Sox.

Family business:

When the White Sox are in Tampa Bay this weekend for three games against the Rays, manager Robin Ventura will be back home in California.

Ventura's daughter, Madison, is graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Bench coach Mark Parent will manage against Tampa Bay and Ventura returns to the Sox Monday in Pittsburgh.