First-rounder Beck agrees to club-record deal

OAKLAND -- The A's came to terms with their first-round Draft pick Tuesday, making a franchise-record $5,303,000 bonus agreement with prep center fielder Austin Beck, the No. 6 overall pick, official.
Beck, one of 31 selections Oakland has already signed following last week's Draft, met several A's players and coaches at the Coliseum on Tuesday afternoon, joining them in the clubhouse before partaking in batting practice.
Already, he's done as West Coasters often do, eating at In-N-Out Burger upon his arrival in California on Tuesday. The 18-year-old will fly to Arizona on Wednesday morning to begin his professional career in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
"It's really exciting," Beck said. "It's kind of always what you dreamed of doing as a little kid."
Beck tore his ACL and meniscus in his left knee last May but immediately showed first-round talent upon his return this spring, batting .590 with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs in 28 games as a senior at North Davidson High School in Lexington, N.C.
"Legitimately looks like a five-tool guy that can do just about everything," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "He throws, he runs, he hits, he hits for power, all the type of things you would hope you would get in a premier first-round pick. He's got all those tools, so we're excited about him."
Beck's deal represents the full slot value assigned to the sixth selection of the 2017 Draft. The A's also signed supplemental first-rounder Kevin Merrell on Tuesday, with MLB.com reporting the South Florida infielder's signing at $1.8 million. His slot value at No. 33 was $2,033,500.
Other top picks in the fold include infielder Will Toffey (fourth round, Vanderbilt), catcher Santis Sanchez (fifth, Puerto Rico), left-hander Logan Salow (sixth, University of Kentucky) and right-hander Parker Dunshee (seventh, Wake Forest).
The A's have just 10 unsigned selections, among them second-round pick Greg Deichmann, an outfielder from LSU, and third-rounder Nick Allen, a San Diego prep infielder.
Chapman on the mend
A's third baseman Matt Chapman, who is being treated for an infection in his left knee, said Tuesday that the antibiotics he received the day prior are working, noting, "It feels better than it did yesterday."
"Range of motion, swelling, everything is getting better," Chapman said, "so we're hoping it's only a few more days."
Melvin didn't rule out Thursday as a potential return date for the rookie.
Worth noting
• Outfielder Matt Joyce was held out of Tuesday's lineup with back tightness, Melvin said.