The Braves drafted Georgia football commitment Terry Godwin on Wednesday and are hoping he chooses to start his baseball career rather than sign with the Bulldogs.
The Braves selected Godwin in the 33rd round out of Callaway High and project him as an outfielder. Godwin’s father, Terry Godwin Sr., recently told The AJC he believes his son would play baseball if offered “a good bit of money” though he didn’t say what amount it would take.
“He’s expressed a commitment to baseball,” Braves scouting director Brian Bridges said. “He would like to pursue baseball or we wouldn’t have gone down this road with him.”
Godwin plays wide receiver for Callaway and is one of the Bulldogs’ top recruits. He said football coach Mark Richt and baseball coach Scott Stricklin told him he can play both sports at UGA.
Because Godwin was drafted later than the 10th round, the Braves would have to pay a penalty if they signed him for more than $100,000 in bonus money. That could include forfeiting draft picks in certain cases.
Godwin worked out for the Braves before the draft.
“He’s an athlete,” Bridges said.”He’s got a plus arm, can run. Is it going to take some time with him? Yes. This is a kid that loves baseball. He’s a great kid. Moving forward we’ll talk to him and see where it goes from there.”
The Braves added six other players with local ties during rounds 11 through 40 on Wednesday.
The Braves selected University of Georgia right-hander Sean McLaughlin (19th round) and Georgia Highlands College right-hander Dalton Geekie (22). Laughlin went to Northview High and Geekie is a product of McEachern.
In addition to Godwin, the Braves drafted four other players from state high schools: Ola High left-hander Jaret Hellinger (20th round), Stephenson right fielder D.J. Neal (32), Wesleyan shortstop Carter Hall (34) and Johnson Ferry Christian Academy second baseman Jackson Webb (37).
After selecting pitchers with 11 of their 13 picks in the first two days of the amateur draft the Braves added 13 more in the later rounds.
“Pitching is hard to find and we wanted go that route and we stayed with it from the start,” Bridges said.
