A native of Atlanta, Beckham attended The Westminster Schools, where he played quarterback and free safety on the football team.

As a freshman in 2006, Beckham started all 81 at shortstop, helping to lead the Bulldogs to the College World Series.

After his sophomore season in 2007, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he batted .284 with 9 home runs in 42 games,[2] was named the starting shortstop for the East Division All-Star team,[3] and helped lead the Red Sox to the league championship.

On June 25, 2008 with his last at bat as a college player, Beckham tied Matt Clark of LSU as the 2008 season home run leader (28).

Beckham was selected eighth overall in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by the Chicago White Sox.

Considered the number one rated prospect in the White Sox system at the start of the 2009 season according to Baseball America,[5] Beckham played in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Saguaros.

After batting .299 over 38 games with the Barons, Beckham was promoted to the Triple–A Charlotte Knights on May 27, 2009 and switched from his natural position at shortstop to third base.

This was seen as a clear indication that he was being prepared for a Major League call-up, as White Sox third baseman Josh Fields was struggling at the plate and on defense.

[8] On June 3, 2009, the White Sox purchased Beckham's contract, adding him to the major league roster after he had hit .326 with 23 doubles, four home runs and 25 RBI in 175 at-bats between Double–A Birmingham and Triple–A Charlotte.

He became the second position player from his draft class, behind the Giants' Conor Gillaspie, to make his MLB debut when, on June 4, he started at third base for the White Sox against the Oakland Athletics.

He became the Sox' everyday starting third baseman, due to Josh Fields, and utility infielder Wilson Betemit's inadequacies at the plate and on defense.

On June 20, Beckham hit his first major league home run, a three-run shot in the fourth inning of the annual MLB Civil Rights Game, off Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto.

[16] On January 28, 2015, Beckham signed a one-year, $2 million contract to return to the Chicago White Sox.

[19] On September 27, 2016, Beckham was traded to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for minor leaguer Rich Rodriguez, with just six games left in the 2016 season.

On January 22, 2019, Beckham signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers that included an invitation to spring training.