By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@thecitizennews

After Monday, Bryan J. Digby has a little more direction in his life.

That's when the star hurler from the McIntosh High School baseball team was selected by the Braves in Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft. He was the 70th overall pick of the draft, which came in the second round, and he was fifth pick for the Braves.

Digby had hoped the Braves would draft him; he was afraid another club would take him first. So it's safe to say he was extremely pleased when he heard the news.

He already knows how he wants to help the organization: as a closer.

“Not John Rocker, just a closer,” Digby said with the hint of a chuckle.

Digby, a righty, went 6-2 for the Chiefs this year. His fastball has been clocked upwards of 92 miles per hour, but major league scouting reports tout his slider as his best pitch.

The scouting report for Digby that was published on Baseball America Online reads as follows: “Digby has an excellent arm. He throws a heavy, sinking fastball in the 92-95 mph range, though with little idea of where the ball is going. His other pitches, which he rarely uses, are also at an early stage of development. His one-pitch repertoire and flaky personality make him a prime closer candidate.”

He attended a workout session at Turner Field last week in front of Braves personnel before traveling to Cincinnati for another workout.

Digby, the son of James and Pam Digby, is entering negotiations with the Braves without the use of an agent, which is rare these days. “It saves 10 percent,” he wisecracks, referring to the typical commission a professional sports agent would receive in such cases.

Scouts from almost every big league team have been to the Digbys' home over the past year or so, James Digby said.

Bryan Digby had originally signed a letter of intent to play baseball for Georgia State University in Atlanta. Naturally, he reconsidered that option in favor of a chance to one day play for the Braves at Turner Field.

“I just want to thank God and my parents and everybody who gave me help along the way,” Digby said.

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