Dallas McPherson
Oakland Athletics — No. --
Third baseman
Born: July 23, 1980 (1980-07-23) (age 29) Greensboro, North Carolina
Bats: Left	Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 10, 2004 for the Anaheim Angels
Career statistics (through 2008 season)
Batting average	.245
Home runs	18
Runs batted in	45
Teams
Anaheim Angels/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2004-2006) Florida Marlins (2008)

Dallas Lyle McPherson (born July 23, 1980, in Greensboro, North Carolina) is a Major League Baseball third baseman, who is currently playing within the Oakland Athletics organization.

[edit] Professional career

After attending college and playing baseball for The Citadel from 1998 to 2001, McPherson was a second round draft pick by the Anaheim Angels in 2001. Midway through his 2004 season, he shot up the ranks from Double-A minor league affiliate Arkansas Travelers to the Triple-A Salt Lake Stingers.

After garnering several minor league Player of the Year honors, McPherson was a September call-up by the Angels to fill their 40-man expanded roster. He made his Major League debut on September 10, 2004, against the Chicago White Sox. With third baseman Troy Glaus limited to the designated hitter role due to a shoulder injury, McPherson started 11 games down the stretch beginning on September 20 and was the Angels' starting third baseman in their playoff series versus the Boston Red Sox. Due to Glaus becoming a free agent and the bright future of McPherson, the Angels declined to re-sign their All-Star third baseman for the high salary he would have commanded and instead gave the job to McPherson for the 2005 season.

His rookie season in 2005 started out sluggishly, with his batting average usually around or below the Mendoza Line in April. Approximately one-third into the season, McPherson's bat heated up and he began hitting like he had been projected to do, including knocking in a pair of game-winning home runs in a series against the Kansas City Royals. His season was truncated by a hip injury, however. He underwent surgery in August 2005 to remove bone spurs.

Entering spring training in 2006, McPherson was expected to compete to be the Angels' starting third baseman. However, he did not hit well during the exhibition season, and that job fell to Chone Figgins, leaving no role on the team for McPherson. As a result, McPherson began the 2006 campaign in the minor leagues. After re-discovering his home run stroke at Triple-A Salt Lake, the Angels called McPherson back to the active roster in May.

McPherson spent the entirety of the 2007 season on the disabled list after choosing to have back surgery to fuse two vertebrate in his back.^[1][2] McPherson was not offered a new contract by the Angels and became a free agent on December 12, 2007.

He signed a one-year deal with the Florida Marlins on January 31, 2008. Playing for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, he batted .275 with 42 home runs and 98 RBI. His 42 home runs led the minor leagues in 2008.^[3] He was called up on September 1, 2008 and had two hits in 11 at-bats.^[4]

On March 31, 2009, McPherson was released by the Marlins.^[5]

On April 11, 2009 McPherson was signed to a minor league contract by the San Francisco Giants.^[6]

On November 20, 2009 McPherson was signed to a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics, with an invitation to spring training; He is expected to compete for the starting 3rd base position as longtime A's 3rd baseman Eric Chavez will likely be limited to mostly DHing if Chavez is able to resume his baseball career at all; like McPherson, Chavez has suffered several back injuries. ^[7][8]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
• Minor League Splits and Situational Stats