Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Boxes, PEDs, Footballers Drafted
Dec 12, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Executives with the Texas Rangers talk during the Rule 5 Draft during the MLB Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. The Texas Rangers chose Russell Wilson, quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks in the draft. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
USC football’s D.J. Neal drafted by hometown Atlanta Braves
South Carolina freshman wide receiver Dexter “D.J.” Neal is officially a Major League Baseball draftee.
Neal, from Stephenson High in Stone Mountain, Ga., was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 32nd round, or No. 960 overall. He worked out for the Braves late last month.
Neal has already moved on campus and has expressed an interest in playing baseball at USC. He told The State that he would have to go in the first three rounds to be enticed to leave.
Neal also has worked out with scouts from Arizona, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston, the Chicago Cubs, Texas and Baltimore. A first-team All-American outfielder by PerfectGame, Neal was considered a prospect with great power potential.
He’s also a four-star wide receiver ranked 31st at his position nationwide. Committed since May 2013, Neal has long planned to be at USC.
Braves draft Georgia football freshman Godwin
The Braves liked Terry Godwin enough to draft him, but probably not enough to stop him from starting his Georgia football career.
Godwin, the five-star receiver from Callaway High, was selected by the Braves in the 33rd round, 990th overall, on Wednesday’s third day of the Major League Baseball draft. Godwin worked out with the Braves last month.
Godwin enrolled at Georgia earlier this month and has begun summer workouts with the Bulldogs. His mother Olivia said Wednesday evening that, although the family and the Braves had already exchanged numbers, the likelihood was he would stay at Georgia.
[ Ed. note: more at the links above. We had talked about Godwin a couple of times previously, but it seems that the Braves – while drafting several football players this week – didn’t feel these guys were to be persuaded to give up their football aspirations at this point… hence the lower draft picks. ]