BUFORD — Brandon Marsh's head is still spinning -- but not so hard that he isn't ready to play ball.
Thanks to Thursday night's Major League Baseball draft, the Buford High graduate may have a chance to do just that at the highest levels in the near futur. Selected by the Los Angeles Angels with the 60th overall pick, Marsh has opted to sign a professional contract, foregoing his Letter of Intent with Kennesaw State to jump straight into the professional ranks.
"It was a crzay night; I'm still shocked," Marsh said on Friday. "I didn't get to bed until about 2 (a.m.) -- I was just sitting their talking with some buddies about what had just happened.
"But I'm ready to get started; I wish I could get out there today and start playing."
That will have to wait for the time being -- though Marsh will journey to Anaheim on Sunday for a physical and press conference.
"Then I'll fly home and and wait until I report to Arizona to begin playing rookie league baseball," said Marsh, who jumped at the chance to join the Angels organization. "They have a great farm league, and they treat their players right; they treated me right when I met with them this past week. And I love the staff and the way they scouted me.
"I know I have what it takes to make it to the majors, and they believe in me. If I click with the coaching, who knows what could happen."
Marsh's decision to join Los Angeles capped a meteoric season for the Wolves star, which saw him hit .559 to lead all of Gwinnett County, in helping Buford to a Class AAAA runner-up finish. He also led Buford in runs scored (59), hits (66), doubles (16), triples (8) and on-base percentage (.638) against just nine strikeouts. Even so, Thursday's developments proved almost dreamlike for the entire Marsh family.
"They called me before they made the pick... At that point I looked straight in mom's and dad's eyes; we hugged then we cried a little bit. We all enjoyed it," Marsh said.
No stranger to hard work after also starring for the Buford football program, Marsh says he will now get to work on both the physical and mental sides of his game as he prepares for life as a professional.
"I'm just now getting in full baseball mode -- I'm going to miss football -- but I'm glad I was able to play," Marsh said. "Mentally, I've got to get tougher though. When I start playing rookie league I'm going to fail more than I'm used to, so I've got to be able to deal with that. Physical work has never been a problem for me. But mentally I've got to get in a different place. I'll get there though."
That's after Marsh's head stops spinning -- which you can be sure will take a little time for a player that just a month ago was playing in the high school ranks.
