HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – Huntsville native, Brewer Hicklen shined in his Atlanta Braves debut.
Brewer grew up a Braves fan as a young baseball player from North Alabama.
He always dreamed of the opportunity to play in an Atlanta Braves jersey.
Hicklen helped lead the Braves to victory when he finally had that opportunity.
“I think it’s emotional for me because my entire life I wanted to be an Atlanta Brave,” Hicklen said. “I remember watching Chipper Jones. I was number 10 my entire life and got to meet him in spring training and finally seeing that kind of become a full circle moment was really special.”
Hicklen went 2-4 with an RBI double in his Atlanta Braves debut. He recorded his first extra base hit of his major league career.
Hicklen tied up the game in the top of the eighth inning at three. The Braves went on to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3.
“All season, it’s all about just been competing in the box and just being a tough out each and every out,” Hicklen said. “It doesn’t mean that you’re going to go 4-4. You may go 0-4. What can you take from that moving into the next day? So it’s the same mindset. Same approach that I’ll have moving forward.”
Hicklen went from Huntsville High School to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Hicklen signed to play baseball and football at UAB.
In 2017, Hicklen became the Blazers highest draft pick when the Kansas City Royals selected him with the 210 pick in the seventh round.
Before his Braves debut, Hicklen had 10 major league appearances with three different teams.
His performance with Atlanta, helped the Braves secure a two game lead in the National League East Division, heading into the All-Star break.
“Very rarely in baseball do you get to have a highlight a mountaintop moment and then ultimately get four days off after,” Hicklen said. “It doesn’t necessarily always work like that. It’s been pretty cool to be able to celebrate what an incredible journey, but also achieving a lifelong childhood dream of mine to play for the Braves.”
Hicklen is back in the lineup for the Braves. The right fielder will hit in the nine spot. The Braves will face the Texas Rangers Friday, July 17 at 7:15 EST.
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