Former Gator McArthur Signs with Beach Bums

Published on July 18, 2009 under Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release


TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.-If you read the transactions column or the in-brief section, you will see that the Traverse City Beach Bums of the independent Frontier League signed infielder Brandon McArthur to fill a spot at third base on the Astroturf at Wuerfel Park in northern Michigan.

If a second paragraph of printed type is warranted, you may be intrigued to learn that McArthur was a career .301 hitter for the University of Florida Gators with 36 doubles, eight triples and 10 home runs, helping the Blue and Orange to a runner-up finish in the College World Series as a red-shirt freshman in 2005 and earned such honors as four-straight Academic All-SEC awards and an SEC-All Freshman Team nod.

The third paragraph, well now the fourth to be exact, is where the story goes from a simple pick-me-up for Beach Bums Nation as the team begins its second half of the ‘09 season, to an inspirational tale almost too good to be true.

McArthur, a sixth-year senior in Gainesville in 2009, had to battle back from a severe head injury after a random act of violence on Oct. 30, 2003 that put him in a drug-induced coma at Tampa General Hospital. Doctors were not sure if he would survive after removing 5-percent of his brain during two life-saving operations on back-to-back days.

McArthur, who was randomly attacked outside a Gainesville nightspot and hit his head on the sidewalk, finally regained full consciousness on Nov. 23, 2003 but found himself not remembering the night of the attack or his new teammates' names.

When he finally got the strength to try to get up to use the bathroom, he immediately fell down. He had also forgotten how to walk. Additionally, he permanently lost his sense of taste and smell. The doctors informed him that he would never play baseball again.

Later, the doctors would explain to McArthur's family that the former All-Florida high school player, who had already been selected in the fifth round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft by the Minnesota Twins, would be paralyzed and unable to communicate.

Over the next 15 months, the Seffner, Florida native set out to prove the same doctors that saved his life wrong. He regained his ability to walk and talk, and began his long road back to the diamond by first hitting balls off a tee, then softly throwing, then taking batting practice.

The long road back to the field finally ended on Feb. 11, 2005, 470 days after the attack, when McArthur took the field at Florida's McKethan Stadium as the No. 15 Gators' starting third baseman. McArthur and the Gators would go on to the best season in school history, winning the school's first SEC Championship in seven years and making a memorable run to the College World Series Championship Series where they fell to the Texas Longhorns in two games.

McArthur would go on to post the great career numbers previously mentioned as one of the most decorated players in University of Florida history, but it was not without even more challenges.

As a sophomore, he missed 10 games with a deep bone bruise and reoccurring shin problems, but would still hit four doubles, two triples, two home runs and total 20 RBIs. McArthur's 2007 season would begin and end on opening night against VMI when, after hitting a home run in the season opener for the second-straight year, he tore his ulnar collateral ligament during a routine throw to first base. Another year of rehab brought McArthur back in the starting lineup for the 2008 season.

On April 2 of his senior season, he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament. The resilient student-athlete would play injured, delaying surgery until the end of the season. He batted a remarkable .367 with 20 RBIs over the final 20 games of the '08 season.

Finally healthy, at least on paper, and granted a sixth year of eligibility, McArthur would post a career-best .338 average in 2009, as well as 14 doubles, three home runs, and drew 20 walks, all also career high watermarks.

Even with his remarkable accomplishments on the field at one of the powerhouses of intercollegiate athletics, McArthur's athletic performances pale in comparison to what he achieved off the field.

Among his community-service awards are two-straight appearances on the SEC Baseball Community Service Team and the 2009 Lowe's Senior Class Award which is the nation's premier tribute to college seniors that excel with character in the classroom, in the community, and on the field.

In 2009, McArthur received a President's Volunteer Service Award from former United States President George W. Bush.

President Bush stated in a letter to McArthur, "Your ability to overcome adversity is a testament to your character, and your compassionate efforts serve as an inspiration to others. You are making our Nation better and stronger, one person at a time."

To completely detail all of McArthur's community outreach efforts would be nearly impossible. He was a representative on Florida's Student Athlete Advisory Council, a featured speaker for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a frequent visitor to the pediatric care unit at Shands Hospital (where he recovered from his injuries), participated in wheel-chair basketball with Special Olympians, spoke at "Youth Quake", an alternative Christian entertainment event, was a member of Big Brothers organization, was the keynote speaker at the March of Dimes Health Conference in 2008, and participated in Climb for Cancer Sports Camp.

The Traverse City Beach Bums, in just their fourth season of competition in the Frontier League, look forward to having McArthur in the Navy Blue and Yellow as the team strives to make a run in the league standings.

One of the Beach Bums' main criteria in signing players to professional baseball contracts is high character. Well, the two-time Frontier League Organization of the Year has just outdone itself.

Traverse City hosts the Windy City ThunderBolts on Saturday and Sunday evening before hosting a three-game series against the Rockford RiverHawks on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night.

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Frontier League Stories from July 18, 2009


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