Troy native and Alabama’s current Mr. Baseball Brax Garrett was drafted seventh by the Miami Marlins in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft Thursday.

Garrett is the son of Steve Garrett who, as head coach, led Charles Henderson High School to the state baseball championship in 2004.

Brax Garrett is a 2016 graduate of Florence High School where he led the Falcons (31-17) to a berth in the Class 6A state tournament. The left-handed pitcher compiled a 6-2 record with a 0.54 ERA and recorded 131 strikeouts against just 15 walks in 65.1 innings. He batted .394 with 10 doubles and 34 RBIs.

He has committed to play baseball at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association’s returning Mr. Baseball was a member of the USA Baseball 18U National Team that won the 2015 18U Baseball World Cup this past summer in Japan.

According to scouting reports, Garrett’s arsenal features a fastball with late life and one of the best curveballs among high schoolers in the 2016 draft class. He has a changeup that shows promise. He also has a fantastic pickoff move, according to reports.

Garrett is the grandson of Troy resident Sandie Garrett, who was in North Alabama Thursday as the family awaited the draft.

She said Brax was 6 years old when the family moved from Troy to Prattville. From there, they moved to Dothan, where Steve Garrett coached baseball at Dothan’s Northview High School, then to Foley High School and Florence High School the past two years.

“I’m extremely proud of Brax,” his grandmother said. “I haven’t gotten to see him play as much as I would have liked. I’ve seen five or six of his games. We’re just proud for him for all the recognitions he has received.”

In addition to playing high school baseball, Garrett has played with Perfect Game in San Diego and with the East Cobb Astros in Atlanta as well as travel baseball.

Sandi Garrett said Brax was just picked as the Gatorade Alabama Baseball Payer of the Year.

As exciting has that was and is, there’s was more to come.

“We’ve been watching Major League Baseball all day and all they have been talking about is the draft,” she said. “We’re having a great time. We have no idea what will happen. We’re just very excited to see it all.”

Meggan Garrett, Steve’s wife, said earlier in the day that Brax was with family, just enjoying the day and waiting for the draft.

“It’s an exciting time for Brax – for all of us,” Garrett said. “Even after the draft there will be a lot of decisions to be made. Right now, Brax is a signee at Vanderbilt. He will have a decision to make – whether he continues at Vanderbilt or decides otherwise. He will have until July 15 to make that decision. Right now, we’re just excited.”