By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@thecitizennews

Bryan Digby's newly-signed baseball contract with the Atlanta Braves calls for a bonus “well in the six-figure range” according to the recent McIntosh High School graduate.

But the 18-year-old has more pressing needs than figuring out how to invest his signing bonus. His main worry now is finding a good catcher.

When you've got a fastball that speeds over 90 mph, you need someone who can handle the heat, Digby said.

“It's tough to find a good catcher these days,” he said. “They can make or break a game, pretty much. A good catcher will get you strike calls, but a bad one will lose you calls, especially on the corners.”

Early in little league, Digby developed a reputation as a tough pitcher who wasn't afraid to pitch inside to hitters. He broke the same kid's wrist in back-to-back seasons while in the 11 to 12 year old league.

And if you think that's tough, wait until you hear how he'd pitch to his mom, Pam, if she were facing him in the batter's box:

“Would I throw at my mother? Only if she's crowding the plate,” he said with a wry smile. Dad suggests his son would have to walk her; give her a break at least.

“I wouldn't walk her. I'd strike her out,” the son replies.

That's just a glimpse into the competitive nature of Digby, who wants to become the Braves closer one day. Already planning to meet that goal, Digby hopes to earn a promotion to Class A ball by the end of this season. He'll start out at the rookie league level with the Gulf Coast Braves, in (of all places) Disney World, where the Braves have a massive complex of baseball facilities.

Digby was drafted Tuesday, and he waited just over an hour for the phone call from the Braves. Had the call come later at night, signifying he was drafted much later, Digby might have decided to stick with his plans to attend Georgia State University.

But the chance to play for the Braves, an organization renowned for producing top pitching prospects -- was too much for Digby to pass up.

The entire organization is classy, Digby and his parents contend.

“They are always interested in you the person, not just you the ballplayer,” Digby said.

Chances are, however, that the Braves will never find a catcher like Digby's father, James. The elder Digby caught his son until the high velocity fastball and slider in recent years became too hot to handle.

James Digby was also the one who taught his son how to pitch, so it's safe to say he knows Bryan's strengths as a pitcher.

“Bryan has always been the one you bring in with the bases loaded and no outs,” James Digby explained. “He has the character and the pressure and nothing seems to bother him.”

Dad thinks the son's 85 mph slider is already of major league caliber. Then again, he hasn't had to catch his pitching prodigy lately.

“I'll see how I like it and see how I want to position myself,” Digby said of his trip to his first post-high school job, which will be as a starting pitcher instead of a reliever.

“It's a class organization and they will look out for you,” Digby said with a wry smile on his face and no worries in sight.

Except for that catcher vacancy, that is.

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