Healthy Beckham optimistic about sustained success

CHICAGO -- After he took a step forward as a rookie and then, perhaps, a step back, the White Sox are hoping the production of a healthy Gordon Beckham this season is an indication of what he can consistently provide.

Beckham has played just 34 games this year because of a broken bone in his left hand, but he's hitting .331. He hit his first homer of the year in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Orioles and has now hit safely in 20 of 27 games since returning from the disabled list on June 2.

"It's kind of a feather in his cap, a testament to him that he's able to make it back," manager Robin Ventura said. "There are a lot of guys that don't make it back from that, and you feel it's kind of a flash in the pan because they can't get over that hump to be able to do that. It's a credit to him."

Beckham finished fifth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2009, when he hit .270 with 14 homers and 63 RBIs. But in the following three seasons, he hit a combined .238.

Now that he's healthy, he feels he can sustain this level of play.

"My hand's pretty much over the hump," Beckham said. "There's some times I feel it a little bit, but I'd say 99 percent of the time, it's pretty normal. I'm still wearing a pad in my batting glove, but its pretty normal."