Emmitsburg, MD -- Former Mount St. Mary's baseball player Brady Feigl will report to his first spring training in Orlando, Fla. on Feb. 27 after signing a spring training contract with the Atlanta Braves organization on Nov. 14. The hard-throwing left-handed pitcher graduated from the Mount in 2012.

"I can't tell everyone who has pushed me and told me I can still make it thank you enough," Feigl said. "I'm just grateful to have the opportunity to go down there and be able to do this. I've been trying to get this opportunity since I was three or four years old. Everyone has that dream."

Feigl, who won seven games on the mound during his playing career at the Mount from 2009-12, touched 93 mph with his fastball at the Mount St. Mary's Scout Day held at E.T. Straw Family Stadium in October.

"I can't be happier for Brady," Mount baseball coach Scott Thomson said. "He has been through a lot with arm injuries.  It is great to see the Atlanta Braves are giving him an opportunity to play professional baseball.  He has worked extremely hard, and this is well deserved.  We wish him the best."

The road from Emmitsburg to a spring training contract with a professional baseball organization hasn't been easy. Feigl put together a strong freshman season at the Mount that included a team-best 69 strikeouts, and scouts took notice. As a sophomore, he was slowed by a shoulder injury that turned out to be a torn labrum. Surgery to repair his shoulder ultimately cost Feigl his junior season.

"I was getting looked at (by scouts) a little bit as a freshman, and I think I took it for granted," Feigl said. "But you never know when your last game is, and that really hit me when I got my surgery."

Returning to the mound for his senior campaign in 2012, Feigl compiled 30 strikeouts and graduated with a degree in sport management. He began working as the pitching coach at St. Mary's High School in Annapolis, Md. in addition to giving baseball lessons.

After playing on a summer league team in 2013, Feigl went to an open tryout held by major league clubs, but heard nothing. Making his way back to Mount St. Mary's for the alumni golf outing in October, Feigl reconnected with Thomson, who invited the lefty pitcher to participate in scout day.

In front of professional scouts from various organizations, Feigl consistently threw between 90-93 mph, catching the eye of Atlanta Braves scout Gene Kerns. Kerns, who had scouted Feigl while at the Mount, was impressed with a healthy Feigl and offered the 2012 graduate a spring training contract the following month.

To prepare for spring training, Feigl has been working out with fellow Old Mill High School graduate, Josh Hader, who was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles and now plays in the Houston Astros organization. Feigl's standing with the Atlanta Braves organization during spring training is on a day-to-day basis.

"You might be there a week or two weeks," said Feigl, "you might be there the whole time."

A strong showing in late February could land him in extended spring training with the Gulf Coast League Braves, with the Danville Braves in the "Advanced Rookie" league, or anywhere else within the organization.

"I'm definitely ready to get down there and show what I can do," Feigl said.