Boca Raton, FL – Jeff Beliveau has become the sixth former Florida Atlantic University baseball player to play in the major leagues. The left hander was promoted to the Chicago Cubs roster and tossed a scoreless 1.2 innings in relief with a strikeout in Sunday’s series finale at the St. Louis Cardinals.
In his debut, Beliveau retired 2012 All-Stars Matt Holliday and Carlos Beltran in his two batters. He struck out Tyler Greene on four pitches in the next inning.
Beliveau had spent the 2012 season at Class AAA-affiliate Iowa Cubs after being named the Cubs Minor League Organizational Pitcher of the Year in 2011. He compiled a 6-2 mark with a 1.57 earned run average last season. Beliveau represented Team USA in the International Baseball Federation World Cup and Pan American Games following the successful 2011 campaign.
“I am so proud of Jeff. It is a very exciting time for him and his family,” said John McCormack, FAU’s head baseball coach. “I know Jeff realized a lifelong dream today and he deserves all the success so far in his career.”
As an Owl during the 2008 season, Beliveau posted a 5-4 record and tossed one complete game in 14 starting assignments. He recorded more than a strikeout per inning with 78 punch outs in 76.2 innings.
This season for the Iowa Cubs, he was 4-5 with a 4.05 ERA in 34 appearances. Beliveau was an 18th-round pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft by the Cubs.
Beliveau’s promotion marks the second straight season that a FAU player has been in the major leagues. Mike Crotta pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011.