McBeth was selected out of the University of South Carolina in the fourth round of the June 2001 Major League Baseball Draft by the Oakland Athletics as a center fielder. He never produced much with the bat during his first three years of professional baseball; he batted just .233 (205 for 881) with 19 home runs and 111 runs batted in. He did, however, show a strong arm and was persuaded to give pitching a shot. Splitting 2005 between Kane County (Single-A), the Arizona A\'s (Rookie League) and Stockton (Single-A), McBeth posted a 2-2 record and an earned run average of 3.62 over 25 appearances (all relief) and 31.1 innings pitched.\n', '

McBeth started the 2006 season in Stockton as the team\'s closer. He was not scored upon in eight appearances, while also racking up seven saves. He was immediately promoted to Midland (Double-A), where he saved 25 games, posted an ERA of 2.48 and allowing opposing hitters to a paltry .213 batting average.\n', '

His success at the Double-A level prompted yet another promotion, to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. Success was harder to come by at the minors\' highest level; in 7.1 innings, he surrendered nine runs and failed to register a single save. Still, McBeth\'s composite 2006 numbers were impressive: 3-3 record, 3.07 ERA, 32 saves and an opponents\' batting average of .198 in 70⅓ innings pitched.\n', '

Return to Marcus McBeth Autograph Profile