Atlanta Braves Morning Chop and Box Score: Freeman Distracted?
Michael Kohn throws the ball during spring training workouts at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
John Cornely on journey from Bishop England to Braves: ‘It’s surreal’
JEFF HARTSELL / (CHARLESTON POST AND COURIER)
John Cornely had just settled into his hotel room Thursday night in Durham, N.C., when the name of Gwinnett Braves manager Brian Snitker showed up on his cell phone.
“He said it was good news,” Cornely said Friday. “I guess that was the understatement of the year.”
Cornely, a graduate of Bishop England High School and former Wofford College pitcher, had been called up to the Major Leagues by the Atlanta Braves. He journeyed Friday from Durham to Philadelphia, where the Braves were to begin a series with the Phillies.
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Cornely would become the first Wofford player in the majors since John Boozer in 1969. Fellow Bishop England graduate Drew Meyer, a former University of South Carolina shortstop, had 14 Major League at-bats with the Texas Rangers in 2006.
[Ed. note: Cornely still hasn’t gotten into a game yet, but his minor league numbers were only improving with each new level. He’s almost 26… and ready to go. The picture above is Michael Kohn, called up at the same time, and from the same area. Apparently it was such a longshot for Cornely to make the majors that nobody even bothered to invite him to Photo Day.]