David Nick, a free agent pickup by the Braves this week, is worthy of a little extra attention. A two-time all-star going through the Di-Banks' system, he was a former 4th-round pick who suddenly found himself without a job in 2014. He was about to go indy league when the Braves signed him and moved the second baseman to the outfield. He went 3-for-4 on Thursday.
Nick, 24, had a baseball scholarship to UCLA, and was a notably good drummer in a couple of rock bands as a teenager. He played (baseball) for team USA one summer, and had nine RBIs in his one AFL season. In fact, he had three RBIs in the Arizona Fall League title game.
"It had been my dream since I was 5 years old when I started playing tee ball that I wanted to play in the major leagues," he told the Mobile Press-Register. "Being drafted in the fourth round by the Diamondbacks, I saw the opportunity.
"It took a lot of prayer with my family, and I spent a lot of time thinking about it. I knew in my heart of hearts that it's what I wanted to do. Right out of high school, I wanted to start my pro career and get started on reaching my goal."
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CLASS AAA
Gwinnett 4, Buffalo 3
SP: Rodriguez 5 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K.
WP: Beato (1-0) 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2K.
Jaime (Save, 7) 1 IP, 1 H, 1 K.
Constanza 4-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI, 3 SB.
Bethancourt 2-4, R, RBI.
Cunningham 2-5, RBI, SB.
Kazmar 2-4, 2B, R.
CLASS AA
Mississippi 2, Mobile 0 (9th)
SP: W. Perez 7.2 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. ***13 ground balls from Perez!
WP: Berger (1-0) 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.
Hoyt (Save, 1) 1 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 K.
Loman 2-4, 2B, R.
E. Reyes 1-4.
Kleinknecht 2-4, RBI.
Schlehuber 1-3, RBI.
ADVANCED CLASS A
Lynchburg 9, Wilmington 2
WP: L. Batista (1-0) 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K.
Wilson (Save, 2) 3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K.
Nick 3-4, 2B, 2 R.
Tewell 1-5, 3B, R, 3 RBIs.
Peraza 2-5, 2 R, RBI, SB.
Ahrens 2-4, R, RBI.
CLASS A
Charleston 6, Rome 2
LP: Buchanan (1-3) 3.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K.
Holmes 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K.
Oliver 2-4, R.
Schrader 1-4, RBI.
De la Rosa 0-3. (.120)
V. Reyes 1-3, RBI. (.378)
Brown 1-3, 2B, R.
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