Dexter Fowler: Atlanta's Colorado Rockies star

Atlanta Braves

Dexter Fowler: Atlanta's Colorado Rockies star

A photo look at Atlanta native Dexter Fowler, formerly of Milton High, who now plays for the Colorado Rockies of MLB baseball.

Atlanta native Dexter Fowler (24) makes at least one return trip home of note each year -- as a member of the Colorado Rockies to face the Braves.

Fowler was a baseball standout at suburban Atlanta's Milton High. As the AJC's 2003-04 Baseball Athlete of the Year, Fowler got high praise from his favorite Milton teacher, Caren Hart (left): "Dexter wears his heart on his sleeve. He has a very bright future ahead of him, regardless of whether it involves baseball."

During his 2004 senior season, Fowler led the Eagles to the Class AAAAA championship before Colorado took him in that year's June MLB Draft.

Back in 2004, the AJC's Michael Carvell wrote of the future MLB draftee: "It's not like Milton outfielder Dexter Fowler is a secret. Before the season even began, the 6-foot-5, 185-pounder was named to various All-America teams. Baseball America tabbed Fowler as the nation's No. 9 high school prospect for the June amateur draft."

Fowler and fellow Atlantan Chris Nelson (right), out of Redan High School, clown around at McCormick Field in Asheville, N.C. when both were minor leaguers with the Asheville Tourists in 2006.

As part of Team USA, Fowler played outfield in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Here, he goes after a ball during the All Star Futures baseball game at Yankee Stadium in July 2008.

Mom Trudy taught Fowler (24) humility and the value of hard work early on, he told the Denver Post's Troy E. Renck: "I was grounded until I got a job. I couldn't go anywhere with my friends. I started working at Kroger. I loved it, talking to the employees and customers. As my mom said, it taught me life skills."

Currently, the speedy Fowler (right) leads the Rockies in stolen bases with 10.

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Atlanta native Dexter Fowler (24) makes at least one return trip home of note each year -- as a member of the Colorado Rockies to face the Braves.

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