The University of Mississippi Athletics
Beam, Tolbert Picked In Day One Of 2003 MLB Draft
6/3/2003 | Baseball
June 3, 2003
NEW YORK - Ole Miss senior RHP T.J. Beam and junior INF Matt Tolbert were both selected during the first day of the 2003 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Tuesday afternoon. Beam was tabbed in the 10th round by the New York Yankees with the 304th overall pick, and Tolbert was drafted in the 19th round by the Baltimore Orioles with the 554th overall pick.
Beam, 6-feet-7, 210 pounds, went 10-4 with six saves and a 3.42 ERA in 40 career appearances, including 18 starts. He also recorded 141 strikeouts while issuing just 46 walks in 144.2 innings. He was drafted in the 11th round by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2002 draft, but opted to return to Ole Miss for his senior season.
"I'm excited to be drafted by the Yankees," Beam said. "They're a great organization with a long outstanding tradition. I think just about every kid growing up dreams about playing at Yankee Stadium, and I'm looking forward to start working in their organization this summer.
"I want to thank my coaches at Ole Miss for allowing me to be a starter during my senior year. I really enjoyed my two years in Oxford and playing in the Southeastern Conference."
This past season, Beam was 8-2 with a 2.94 ERA in 16 appearances, including 15 starts, and recorded 91 strikeouts while walking only 33 in 101 innings. He also tossed two complete games against Alabama on April 18 and Wichita State in the NCAA Houston Regional on May 30.
Ole Miss went 13-2 in games that Beam started in 2003 as the Rebels recorded a 35-27 mark.
A native of Scottsdale, Ariz., Beam played two seasons at Scottsdale Community College before signing with Ole Miss. He posted a two-year record of 16-9 with a 3.85 ERA at Scottsdale and set the school's career strikeout record.
Tolbert, 6-feet, 177 pounds from Woodville, Miss., has been a three-year starter for the Rebels. He has a .288 career average with nine home runs and 73 RBIs in 169 career games.
This past spring, Tolbert turned in his best year at the plate, hitting .301 with one HR and 22 RBIs. He also had 11 doubles, four triples and was 8-of-9 in stolen base attempts.
Rd. Pick Player, Pos. Yr. Ht. Wt. Team10 304 T.J. Beam, RHP Sr. 6-7 210 New York Yankees19 554 Matt Tolbert, INF Jr. 6-0 177 Baltimore
