Former Milton baseball player set to make World Series history

MILTON, Ga. — A former metro Atlanta baseball star is about to make World Series history.

Dexter Fowler, a standout on the Milton Eagles baseball team, will become the first African-American Cubs leadoff hitter in a World Series.%

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“(I'm) overjoyed and humbled,” Fowler’s father, John W. Fowler, told Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik on Tuesday. “For him to live out his dream to play professional baseball, number 1, and to make it to this level is just tremendous.”

Fowler played youth ball on the East Cobb Astros alongside other future major leaguers.

“It has prepared him from a competitive standpoint to have team members like Jason Heyward on the team, and for him to have played with so many awesome guys from Georgia,” Fowler’s father told Petchenik.

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Fowler said his son is trying to keep things in perspective as he steps onto the biggest stage of his career.

“God has given him the opportunity to be on this stage, and to have guys like Ernie Banks and some of the more prominent Hall of Famers to have not attained this, he needs to recognize the contribution that, not only is he making for himself and for the legacy of the guys who have carved it out before him, but most importantly for the fans,” he said. "The fans have waited a long time for this. Take it all in, take it in perspective, and just do what you’ve always done, humble yourself and play your game.”

Fowler’s former coach, Greg Robinson, said he was a leader on his 2004 state championship team.

“Dex is just such a great kid. You can see how infectious his smile is,” Robinson told Petchenik. “He just loves life in general and has such a passion for the game.”

Robinson said that even then, Fowler practiced hard.

“He worked on his trade in the outfield. Most outfielders are hanging around, not working on the game,” he said. “He was out there trying to snatch… gap shots.”

Current Milton High School coach Jeff Heusing said Fowler visits the school when he’s in town and often takes batting practice with his players.

“Dexter means a great deal to this school and this community, especially to our baseball program,” Heusing said. “We’re looking for role models for our kids, and Dexter exemplifies that."

Heusing said that even though this is Braves country, he and his players are changing their allegiances this week.

“I think we’re all pulling for Dexter and the Cubs right now,” he said.

Cox Media Group