July 23, 2008

MARION, Ind. -- Indiana Wesleyan University junior Brandon Beachy has signed a professional major league baseball contract with the Atlanta Braves.

Beachy has been assigned to the Atlanta affiliate in Danville, Virginia, which is the Braves’ high-rookie league team in the Appalachian League. He was signed as a relief pitcher.

The Kokomo, Indiana native had been participating in a wooden bat league in Virginia when an Atlanta scout took notice.

“We got him on the Valley League team this summer to enhance his chance of getting drafted next year,” said former Indiana Wesleyan baseball coach Mark DeMichael. “He struggled with a minor biceps strain and shoulder tendonitis most of the 2008 IWU season, so he really didn’t get much of a chance to impress the scouts during our season. The fact that this all happened so quick is a testament to the dominant summer he has had against mostly Division I competition.”

Beachy, who would have been a senior this coming school year, is no longer able to play for Indiana Wesleyan, but is planning to return in the fall to complete his education.

“The Braves saw him pitch several times and out of the blue last week the scout approached him and asked him what it would take for him to sign this summer,” quoted DeMichael. “After his appearance on Saturday, he told the scout what he needed and the scout said that the Braves were willing to give him what he asked for, so he signed. They gave him an excellent signing bonus, in the range of what the typical 10th round draft pick would get, and they also agreed to pay for the rest of his college education.”

Beachy was 2-3 for the Wildcats this past season with six saves in 27 innings. He struck out 34 while only walking seven. Beachy eliminated top-seed Malone (Ohio) College in the NCCAA World Series semifinals with a four-hit, complete game in his final pitching performance for the Wildcats. He allowed three runs in the 6-3 victory and struck out eight Pioneers.

In addition to pitching, Beachy played first and third base for Indiana Wesleyan. He compiled a .296 average with four home runs and 13 doubles while leading the Wildcats with 48 RBIs.

Said DeMichael, “While it is hard to lose Brandon for his senior year, I couldn’t be happier for him. He has worked incredibly hard to improve enough as a baseball player to get this type of opportunity.”

The 2005 graduate of Northwestern High School in Kokomo is just the second Indiana Wesleyan baseball student-athlete to sign a professional contract since 1970. Brandon Moore was drafted in the 11th round by the New York Mets in this year’s June Draft and is playing for the Class-A Brooklyn Cyclones in the New York-Penn League.