Braves to Honor Kell Baseball Star

The top high school baseball players in metro Atlanta - including one from Northeast Cobb - will be honored at the Braves 400 Fan Club’s Annual High School All-Star Luncheon next week, according to a recent press release.

Brady Smith of Kell High School will join 15 others for the prestigious event.

The luncheon's guest speaker Frank Wren, the executive vice president and general manager of the Atlanta Braves.

The 2013 All-Star Honorees are:

Brandon Baker, Redan High School - coached by Marvin Pruitt
Dylan Cease, Milton High School - coached by Joey Ray
Clint Frazier, Loganville High School - coached by Jeff Segars
Josh Hart, Parkview High School - coached by Chan Brown
Griffin Helms, Norcross High School - coached by Jonathan Wyman
Gemini Jackson, B.E. Mays High School - coached by Reginald Austin
Connor Johnstone, Roswell High School - coached by Mike Power
Nathaniel Lowe, Pope High School - coached by Jeff Rowland
Brock Maxwell, Lambert High School - coached by Jamie Corr
Austin Meadows, Grayson High School - coached by Jed Hixson
Matt Meeder, Roswell High School - coached by Mike Power
Cody Pugh, Mill Creek High School - coached by Doug Jones
T.J.Richardson, Lanier High School - coached by Chad Longe
Brady Smith, Kell High School - coached by Donnie English
Hunter Thornton, Parkview High School - coached by Chan Brown
Stephen Wrenn, Walton High School - coached by Shane Amos

The Player of The Year and Coach of the Year will be announced at the end of the luncheon.

Beginning with Pete Ladd in 1974, dozens of our honorees have made it to the Major Leagues. Braves 400 Fan Club Players of the Year currently or very recently in the Majors include Brent Abernathy (1996), Corey Patterson (1998-9), Brandon Phillips (2000), and Jeff Francoeur (2002-3). Zack Wheeler, POY in 2010, should be called up by the NY Mets at any time, says the release.

Last year's Player of the Year, Matt Olson of Parkview, was the 47th overall pick by Oakland and honoree Lucas Sims of Brookwood High School was drafted 21st overall by the Braves.

Some of the most recent High School All-Stars currently in the majors include Brian McCann (Atlanta Braves) and Dexter Fowler (Colorado Rockies).

Francoeur and McCann were among the former local prep stars who also played with East Cobb Baseball, located on Lee Waters Drive in Northeast Cobb.

Admission to the May 30 luncheon at at Turner Field’s 755 Club is by advance reservation only. The deadline for purchase is midnight Monday, May 27. The cost is $25 for Club Members and $30 for non-members. Make reservations on the Club’s website or by mailing a check to the Braves 400 Club, P.O. Box 7689, Atlanta, GA 30309. Further information is available on the website or on the Braves 400 Fan Club’s hotline, 770-416-4539.