Braves select former Hardaway standout Josh Anthony in 16th round

Josh Anthony was standing on second base Saturday afternoon at Edgewood Park in a Columbus Black Crackers practice when he heard his phone ring.

It was the Atlanta Braves calling to tell him they had drafted him in the 16th round of the Major League Baseball draft. Anthony was taken with the 469th overall pick.

“It is a blessing,” the former Hardaway High standout said. “There are a lot of deserving players who don’t get this opportunity.”

Anthony is one of three local players taken in the draft. Anfernee Grier (Russell County and Auburn) was taken in the first round by the Diamondbacks and Hunter Swilling (Columbus High) was drafted in the 29th round by the Detroit Tigers.

Anthony spent the past two seasons at Western Oklahoma State, where he earned National Junior College Athletic Association Division II All-America honors earlier this week.

Anthony batted .444 with 25 homers and 84 RBIs in 65 games. He stole 49 bases and scored 112 runs.

In 2015, he batted .425 with 20 homers and 71 RBIs. He helped lead Western Oklahoma to the NJCAA Division II World Series.

Anthony, a third baseman, has already committed to play at Auburn next year, but those plans may now change. Anthony said it will all depend on how negotiations go with the Braves.

Anthony, who always worn No. 10 where ever he played, said he grew up a big Braves fan, especially of third baseman Chipper Jones, who also wore No. 10.

Anthony was an Ledger-Enquirer All-Bi-City performer at Hardaway. He said going to Western Oklahoma was the best thing that has happened to his career.

“When I left Columbus, I had to step outside my comfort zone,” Anthony said. “I was taught the game the right way here in Columbus.

“When I got to Oklahoma, I was taught the game in the right way but a different way. The coach is very hands-on.

“It helped me blossom as a player.”

Swilling to Tigers

Swilling was taken by Tigers with the 865th overall pick.

Swilling just finished his junior year at Samford, where he batted .292 with 12 homers and 58 RBIs. He led the team with 25 doubles.

He was a first-team All-Southern Conference player in 2015 when he hit 16 homers and drove in 56 runs.

This story was originally published June 11, 2016 at 5:03 PM with the headline "Braves select former Hardaway standout Josh Anthony in 16th round."