Bryan

Digby's newly-signed baseball contract with the Atlanta

Braves calls for a bonus "well in the six-figure

range" according to the recent McIntosh High School

graduate.

But the

18-year-old has more pressing needs than figuring out how

to invest his signing bonus. His main worry now is

finding a good catcher.

When you've

got a fastball that speeds over 90 mph, you need someone

who can handle the heat, Digby said.

"It's

tough to find a good catcher these days," he said.

"They can make or break a game, pretty much. A good

catcher will get you strike calls, but a bad one will

lose you calls, especially on the corners."

Early in

little league, Digby developed a reputation as a tough

pitcher who wasn't afraid to pitch inside to hitters. He

broke the same kid's wrist in back-to-back seasons while

in the 11 to 12 year old league.

And if you

think that's tough, wait until you hear how he'd pitch to

his mom, Pam, if she were facing him in the batter's box:

"Would

I throw at my mother? Only if she's crowding the

plate," he said with a wry smile. Dad suggests his

son would have to walk her; give her a break at least.

"I

wouldn't walk her. I'd strike her out," the son

replies.

That's just

a glimpse into the competitive nature of Digby, who wants

to become the Braves closer one day. Already planning to

meet that goal, Digby hopes to earn a promotion to Class

A ball by the end of this season. He'll start out at the

rookie league level with the Gulf Coast Braves, in (of

all places) Disney World, where the Braves have a massive

complex of baseball facilities.

Digby was

drafted Tuesday, and he waited just over an hour for the

phone call from the Braves. Had the call come later at

night, signifying he was drafted much later, Digby might

have decided to stick with his plans to attend Georgia

State University.

But the

chance to play for the Braves, an organization renowned

for producing top pitching prospects -- was too much for

Digby to pass up.

The entire

organization is classy, Digby and his parents contend.

"They

are always interested in you the person, not just you the

ballplayer," Digby said.

Chances

are, however, that the Braves will never find a catcher

like Digby's father, James. The elder Digby caught his

son until the high velocity fastball and slider in recent

years became too hot to handle.

James Digby

was also the one who taught his son how to pitch, so it's

safe to say he knows Bryan's strengths as a pitcher.

"Bryan

has always been the one you bring in with the bases

loaded and no outs," James Digby explained. "He

has the character and the pressure and nothing seems to

bother him."

Dad thinks

the son's 85 mph slider is already of major league

caliber. Then again, he hasn't had to catch his pitching

prodigy lately.

"I'll

see how I like it and see how I want to position

myself," Digby said of his trip to his first

post-high school job, which will be as a starting pitcher

instead of a reliever.

"It's

a class organization and they will look out for

you," Digby said with a wry smile on his face and no

worries in sight.

Except for

that catcher vacancy, that is.