Bird flies home to make M-Braves debut

The Major League trade deadline saw Zack Bird change organizations, time zones and an entire Minor League classification, and in the end, he ended up at home. Literally.

The Jackson, Mississippi native woke up in his own house and then stood out on the mound for his new club, not allowing a run on two hits over 5 2/3 innings in his Atlanta organization debut as Double-A Mississippi fell to visiting Montgomery, 1-0, in 10 innings on Monday.

"There's been a lot of attention paid to me coming back to the hometown team in two ways -- hometown organization with the Braves and the literal hometown team with the Double-A affiliate," Bird said. "Getting promoted with a new organization, it's a lot to try to soak in at once. I've tried my best to push it aside."

Bird had just finished pitching for Murrah High School, roughly six miles away from Trustmark Park, when the Dodgers drafted him in the ninth round of 2012. Three years later, he was part of last week's three-team trade between the Dodgers, Braves and Marlins. Bird made 19 appearances (17 starts) for Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga to start the year, going 5-7 with a 4.75 ERA. On Monday, in his first start away from the Dodgers system, he found himself in very familiar surroundings.

"I definitely didn't have to find a host family or anywhere to live," he said. "It's a lot going into it, but I think, overall, it did help me. I'm in a stadium I'm familiar with. I'm in my own bed at home with my mom cooking breakfast. It's a luxury that 99 percent of guys don't have."

With the comforts of home starting the day, Bird quickly settled in for his new club. The 21-year-old walked three and struck out only two, but faced multiple baserunners in an inning just once.

"It was a good start overall," the Braves' No. 13 prospect said. "Any time you can throw 5 2/3 zeros, it's a good start. I was a little bit erratic in the first inning. I walked two guys, but my catcher Braeden [Schlehuber] really helped me out as far as pitch selection. My infield, they really came up and made some big plays. They didn't misplay any balls.

"I wasn't able to put away a lot of guys [with strikeouts], but I was able to get early outs using my changeup and my fastball."

Schlehuber provided another stabilizing presence for Bird at the ballpark. The 27-year-old backstop has spent parts of the past four seasons with Mississippi and had some familiarity with the Biscuits lineup.

"It was priceless," Bird said of having the veteran behind the plate. "I shook maybe once or twice the entire game. I faced [Montgomery first baseman Jake] Bauers in low-A last year, and I faced [outfielder Johnny] Field in Bowling Green a little bit last year. Other than that, I hadn't faced any of those guys. I trusted him, and to have that trust in a guy who has the experience, it makes pitching a lot easier."

After walking Field to lead off the sixth, Bird responded by striking out No. 29 Rays prospect Patrick Leonard and inducing a groundout from Dayron Varona before exiting in the sixth after 82 pitches.

With the jitters of a home debut behind him, the right-hander is anxious to get down to the business of his Double-A career.

"My mama always says when I go out there, 'Know that you belong,'" Bird said. "You always want to be confident, but my first start in Double-A, I wasn't sure what to expect. Now that I [accomplished that], it really solidifies that I can pitch here."