Beam to Pirates

Former SI Yankee Heading to Pittsburgh

By: Robert Pimpsner

December 14, 2007 – After being offered a contract by the New York Yankees, former Staten Island Yankees pitcher TJ Beam had to find a new mound to pitch on.  Well the tall right-hander did just that as he has now signed a minor-league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Beam will join another ex-Staten Island Yankees in the Pirates Organization, Kevin Thompson.

                This past season was a tough one for Beam, battling injuries all season but managed a 4-3 record with a 3.59 ERA in Triple-A.  He struck out 45 in 47.2 innings for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.  Beam got his first taste of the majors in 2006 with the Bronx Bombers, going 2-0 with an 8.50 ERA in 18 innings.

                He was originally drafted by the New York Yankees in the Tenth round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft and made his professional debut with the Staten Island Yankees.  For the Baby Bombers he went 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in nine games before being promoted to Battle Creek.  Beam got a return trip to Staten Island the following year.  After going 2-5 with a 4.35 ERA in 11 appearances for the Battle Creek Yankees, Beam was transferred back to Staten Island where he was 2-4 with a 2.57 ERA and he pitched his only complete game of his career (8/27 at Brooklyn).