Rath is a 1991 graduate of Long Beach (MS) High School. Rath played collegiately at Mississippi State University from 1992 to 1994 where he was a First Team All-SEC (1994) selection; a First Team All-American (Baseball America, ABCA); Second Team All American (Mizuno); and Third Team All American (NCSWA). After the 1993 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[1] As a junior in 1994 he was the Los Angeles Dodgers' 2nd round pick (47th overall) and made his major league debut on June 2, 1998, against the St. Louis Cardinals in Dodger Stadium.