Thursday, November 24, 2011

Brandon Beachy Atlanta Braves

ATLANTA -- Brandon Beachy seems genuinely appreciative of the many individuals who have aided him during a journey that became more improbable as he spent this year enjoying a record-setting rookie season with the Braves. Two years ago, Beachy was a relatively unknown Minor League pitcher who had just completed his first full professional season. One summer earlier, he had seen his life's path significantly altered when the Braves signed him out of a relatively obscure collegiate summer league staged in rural Virginia. And it's been just four years since Beachy was attempting to celebrate Thanksgiving while dealing with the fact that he was still just a few months removed from that horrific day when his ill-fated attempt to prank his siblings led to a fire that destroyed his parents' home. "To be where I'm sitting now, I have a lot to give thanks for," Beachy said. "There is a lot of good that has come out of that experience. It's just one more experience in my life that shows how blessed I've truly been. "It reminds me to not take anything for granted because it can be taken away so quickly." Read the complete story by Mark Bowman, reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs