Area standout selected in MLB draft

The pick came as a pleasant surprise for Brody Wofford. What comes next for the former Model standout is yet to be seen.

Wofford was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 14th round of the MLB Draft on Wednesday, presenting him with a major decision after a successful season at Chipola College, with a season at LSU the year before that.

The outfielder hasn’t decided yet on whether he wants to sign with the Reds or stay in college another year. But whatever he chooses, Wednesday is going to a moment he won’t forget.

“Nothing is set in stone yet. If God wants it to happen then it’ll happen,” Wofford said. “But right now I’m just ecstatic. It has taken a lot of mental toughness to get to this point, and I want to soak it in.”

After a year at LSU where he batted .242 and started eight games, Wofford transferred last year to Chipola, regarded as one of the best junior colleges in baseball. This spring, he batted .328 for the Indians with 52 RBIs and a .508 slugging per-

centage.

Chipola lost nine games all season and eventually won the NJCAA College World Series. In t he championship- winning game against San Jacinto College, Wofford recorded three hits including a two-run homer in the seventh inning.

“At Chipola, none of us really knew each other to begin this season so we really just worked on playing sound baseball,” Wofford said. “With the help of our coaches, we came together and really started to make everyone on the team better.”

While the opportunity of jumping into professional baseball is there thanks to the Reds, his collegiate future is still a possibility.

Wofford said he would transfer to the University of Central Florida in Orlando if he decides to stay in school. Last season, the UCF Knights won 40 games and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Regionals.

“I know he is keeping his options open, and that’s perfectly fine by me,” said Todd Wofford, Brody’s father. “He’s been level-headed through this whole thing and I can’t emphasize how proud I am of him. He’s worked so hard, and it is finally paying off.”

Brody said he was sitt i ng with his mother Wednesday when the announcement came. He knew the Reds had been interested in him for awhile, but the selection still surprised him.

The 2015 Model graduate batted above .500 in his junior and senior years with the Blue Devils after playing at Cartersville for two seasons.