Opening Day: Buckhead Players Ready for Season

As opening day approaches in professional baseball, here are a few notes about players who started out on Buckhead high school teams.

Former standout L.V. Ware has made the roster of the Atlanta Braves' AA Mississippi franchise. After playing in the minors for several years, this is the highest level the 25-year-old has reached. In his high school days, he was known as Leonardo Ware.

He's now on the disabled list after a knee injury late last year, for which he is undergong rehabilitation. He is expected to join the Southern League team, based near Jackson, Miss., a couple of weeks into the season.

Last year, the outfielder hit .251 with 7 home runs, 33 rbi and 14 steals for Lynchburg of the Carolina League. He also writes a blog, the Journey of L.V. Ware.

On the Major League level, and University of Georgia alum Gordon Beckham is hopeful going into his fourth season with the Chicago White Sox, who open the season on the road against the Texas Rangers.

The former rookie of the year second baseman is looking to rebound from last year, when he hit .230, while showing a bit of power with 10 home runs and 44 rbi. Here's a December article on Beckham from MLB.com.

The Atlanta Braves open the season on the road against New York and Houston, before their home opener April 13 against the Brewers.

Former ootball and baseball standout George Lombard, who played for the Braves and several other teams, is now manager of the rookie league Gulf Coast Red Sox. This is his second year as the team's skipper.

Luke Mayeux contributed to this report.

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