The opportunity to get chosen by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft was joyful for former Indiana State Sycamore standout Carter Beck.
The Canadian was taken 26th overall by the Atlanta Braves on July 11, Day One of the MLB Draft.
After finishing his junior season at Indiana State, Beck departed for the MLB Draft Combine at Phoenix’s Chase Field. The combine ran from June 23 to 26.
Beck said it was all cool and he enjoyed the experiences. “The biggest thing was I just had fun with it,” Beck told the Tribune-Star by phone. “[I decided to] show my personality off.”
Beck thinks the Braves saw qualities in him besides his impressive stats.
“I think they just really liked the person I was, the story, kind of how I’ve got to where I’ve gotten,” he said.
Beck finished his junior season with a .346 batting average with 82 hits including 17 doubles, two triples and 16 home runs.
Beck said his playing career path isn’t the typical route.
“I think it kind of shows some hard work that I’m able to put in and consistently put in time after time,” Beck explained. “I think that definitely helped me out a fair bit.”
Beck was the second-highest drafted Sycamore ever, trailing only former ISU catcher Bill Hayes (chosen 13th overall in 1978).
To be the second-highest drafted Sycamore was special for Beck.
“I looked up the names that other Indiana State guys were, and some pretty big names,” Beck mentioned. “So it’s pretty cool for sure and I’m just super excited about the opportunity.”
As the Saturday, July 11 draft unfolded, Beck wasn’t expecting to get drafted for another 30 or 40 minutes once he got the call. He was sitting around with his family back home in Carnduff, Saskatchewan, Canada watching the draft. He said he got a phone call from his agent telling him to go watch the TV right then.
He walked out near the TV and all of a sudden his name was called across the board.
“I go, ‘holy [expletive]! I can’t believe it!’” Beck recalled. “It was awesome. It was the coolest feeling I think I’ve ever had to see my name come up on the TV like that, that early, and to be that big of a surprise.”
He said it was a cool moment with a bunch of friends and family around in the backyard watching with him as they were all able to celebrate and enjoy the moment together.
Beck said his town of Carnduff has about 1,000 people.
“It doesn’t matter where you go within the province, even if somebody’s got a connection to baseball or a connection to Carduff, they kind of know who I am,” Beck pointed out.
He said it’s cool to be a role model and have that big of a presence in Saskatchewan.
“It’s also cool to know you have that many people supporting you and wanting you to do the best you can,” Beck stated.
He said he talked to some big names after getting drafted who wished him well, but wouldn’t reveal who.
In his communications with the Braves, Beck said the club is excited to have him. Likewise, he’s excited to get playing again. Beck recently traveled to the Braves’ Florida Complex in North Port. Then after 10-20 days, he said the Braves will access his next move, either keeping him there for training or assigning him to a minor-league affiliate.
He said everyone at Indiana State were excited.
“Arch is great, and all the people at ISU are great right now too,” Beck said of ISU baseball coach Tracy Archuleta.
If he needs anything through his pro career, they told him to just give them a shout. “They’ve been a big part in just making sure I’m able to do everything smoothly,” Beck said.
He said ISU’s Bahamas trip was his favorite memory, when the Sycamores played Penn State in the islands. As he returns to a tropical climate in Florida and into the rest of his professional career, he said he’s just going to keep doing what makes him good.
Beck said the Braves organization wants him to succeed, and has offered him this chance to see the pro club’s facilities, meet its staff and learn everything baseball has to offer.
“Not that it’s any different at college, but it’s just a different level at the professional level, and I’m super excited to see what that looks like, and just to be a part of an organization like the Braves too,” Beck said.
“It’s still unreal coming off the tongue that I’m talking about myself being a Brave.”
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