Topic: Marcus McBeth

Marcus Andre McBeth (born August 23, 1980 in Spartanburg, South Carolina) is a right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox organization. He 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.

McBeth 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 31⅓ innings pitched.

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.