Former Burke star is enjoying breakout year

ATLANTA --- Jonathan Broxton remembers when Atlanta Braves players were his heroes.

"Dale Murphy and that whole group when he was there," he said. "Then (John) Smoltz, (Tom) Glavine and (Steve) Avery were there, and Chipper (Jones) was coming up. They were the best when I was in Little League."

Now the Waynesboro, Ga., native and former Burke County High School star is enjoying life with a different perspective. Jones, the reason Broxton wore No. 10 as a young athlete in Waynesboro, is no longer just a baseball hero to look up to; he's a peer.

"We share the same agent, I've gone to his charity golf tournaments with him and we've gone hunting together," Broxton said. "That stuff's pretty cool."

And this season Broxton has at least equalled his childhood hero in value to his team. Broxton is the closer for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who took two of three games from the Braves last weekend in Atlanta and are hoping for more success this weekend in Los Angeles.

Broxton, a 25-year-old right-handed pitcher, didn't make it into the series in Atlanta. But it wasn't because of his ability. Basically put, his particular expertise wasn't necessary.

"It doesn't bother me (to sit out of an entire series). I'm here to do one job," he said. "I used to be a set-up man, but it's a little different now when you know you've got the last three outs. I like it."

As a closer, Broxton typically won't enter a game unless the Dodgers have a slim lead in the ninth inning.

The routine -- sitting, waiting, saving, then sitting and waiting some more -- doesn't faze him. His demeanor seems to be built for such a role.

"That's his personality," Broxton's agent, B.B. Abbott, said. "He's extremely competitive between the lines, but outside the lines he's docile. You can see the competitiveness, but he's been able to harness it."

Broxton has earned the role as closer after getting a taste of it last year when Takashi Saito was injured. Broxton picked up the series-clinching save in the National League Divisional Series win over the Cubs. He added an appearance in the World Baseball Classic and an All-Star selection to his resume this year.

In light of the accolades, his words in the visitors' clubhouse last week seemed to be the understatement of his life.

"It's been a big year for me," he said. "A lot of good stuff has been happening."

The fast track

Even before the past 12 months brought success, recognition and even a little bit of fame to Broxton, the pitcher had already established himself as the best active pro ball player to come out of the Augusta area.

He has been a regular reliever for the Dodgers since 2006 and solidified himself as a strong set-up man with a career ERA of 2.99.

But he was moved from set-up man to closer this spring, and his career took off.

"It's all come so quick," Broxton said. "Really, it feels like I just got out of high school."

After an impressive career at Burke County, Broxton was drafted 60th overall by the Dodgers in 2002. He reacted to the news in what would become typical Broxton fashion. While family and friends celebrated openly, he kept his composure and just smiled.

In a draft day interview, he told The Augusta Chronicle that his low-key demeanor was seen as a positive.

"I don't show any emotion, and the scouts liked that attitude," he said. "They don't want you to have an attitude. They don't want you to pitch a fit."

Seven years later, everything else has changed in Broxton's life except the composure.

"He's just solemn as can be," Broxton's father, Randy, said. "He's been that way all his life. He's always said he just wants to be Jonathan."

Being Jonathan hasn't been easy considering where his career has taken him. After finishing his senior year at Burke County with a 9-2 record and 1.21 ERA, he made the move from Waynesboro to the Dodgers organization on the West Coast. He spent the 2002 season in Great Falls, Mont., before playing for minor league teams in the Southeast over the next three years.

The full transition came in the 2006 season when Broxton started at the Triple-A level in Las Vegas until he made the big league club in Los Angeles for good. That's when he found out Waynesboro and Los Angeles are separated by more than just 2,300 miles.

"That town can gobble you up," Abbott said. "But it hasn't done that at all to him. He's a good ol' Georgia boy. He's one of the good ones."

While the bright lights of one of the largest cities didn't affect Broxton, he made an impact himself. He went 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA after the All-Star break in 2006. The next year he made the fourth most appearances by a pitcher in Dodgers history (83) and ranked second among relievers with 99 strikeouts.

By 2008, he positioned himself to move up before Saito injured his elbow.

"He became one of the best set-up men in the game, and I think everybody knew he was the closer-in-waiting," Abbott said. "He performed well in the scenario."

More milestones

Broxton had already achieved the dreams of most Little Leaguers before this season started. But 2009 took things to a new level. It started in January when he was named to the Team USA roster for the World Baseball Classic.

Some big league managers balked at the idea of sending talent away during spring training, but Dodgers manager Joe Torre said it was exactly what Broxton needed.

"I think it helped him in the spring when he was taken in the Classic," Torre said. "It helps your ego, there's no question about it. But he's taken this closer role, and he hasn't looked back."

Broxton went 1-0 and allowed only one earned run in four appearances in the World Baseball Classic. He followed that up with a first half of the season good enough to earn a spot in the All-Star Game. He made the trip to St. Louis, even though he couldn't play because of a toe injury.

But the international exposure and All-Star nod wasn't the highlight of the season for Broxton. His soft-spoken demeanor won't be broken talking about baseball awards and honors, but he cracks a wide smile just thinking about what he considers his biggest achievement of all: becoming a dad.

"You don't get much sleep anymore, but it's all worth it," he said. "You see guys with their kids, they bring them into the clubhouse or in the field and they're running around and playing. We can't do that yet, but I can't wait till he gets old enough to do things like that."

Broxton's son, Jonathan Brooks Broxton, was born July 11. He immediately showed he was the ideal son for a big league pitcher. Brooks came on one of only four off days for the Dodgers in the entire month. Dad had to catch an early flight from the West Coast, but Brooks didn't come until Jonathan was home.

"My wife called me at 3:30 (in the morning)," Broxton said. "So I made the phone calls, and they got me on a plane to Atlanta. I made the drive from there to Waynesboro and got there 15 minutes before the baby was born."

Broxton admitted that life as a new dad has become a bit more complex. But he takes it like he has everything else in a high-profile, successful life -- with humility.

"It's a big responsibility. I mean big. It's great, though," he said. "You're waking up in the middle of the night, you're changing diapers, you're feeding. If you want to hurry up and go do something, that's not happening anymore."

Looking ahead

Broxton will look to the future when it comes to his family, but he said he takes careerk one day at a time.

The Dodgers entered the weekend with the best record in baseball, and Broxton has positioned himself as one of the most reliable closers with 24 saves in 27 chances this season. He has made 46 appearances in 2009. The Dodgers are 43-3 in those games.

Los Angeles made the playoffs last season, but Broxton gave up a costly home run late in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series as the Dodgers lost to Philadlephia, the eventual World Series champion. This year, the Dodgers appear to be cruising to another playoff bid and hope to avenge last year's loss.

"We can't look ahead. Colorado and the Giants have been playing awesome lately," Broxton said. "It's part of a 162-game season to not look ahead, but yeah, we want to get back there."

Entering Friday's home game against the Braves, the Dodgers enjoyed a 61-game lead over San Francisco in the NL West. The Rockies and the Giants are expected to compete for the NL wild card spot.

The Dodgers are expected to win the West and contend for a title.

Broxton said he's prepared for a playoff run and the pressure that comes with being a closer on a contending team.

"My life has prepared me for everything," he said. "People don't always see all the stuff you go through, but staying in school, working hard, just playing all the time as a kid. All that work and responsibility prepares you for it. I'm ready."

Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.