Former Bradley pitcher Jacob Booden (Vernon Hills, Ill./Libertyville H.S.) has signed a free agent contract with the St. Louis Cardinals and is headed to the Johnson City (Tenn.) Cardinals in the rookie Appalachian League.

A 4-year letterman on the mound for the Braves, Booden ended his career last month tied for third in school history with 65 career pitching appearances and tied for eighth with 40 career relief appearances.  The 6-foot-9 right-hander worked exclusively as a late-inning reliever in 2012, going 2-2 with a 2.84 earned run average in 28 appearances and striking out 42 hitters in just 31.2 innings pitched with a .216 opponent batting average.  His 28 relief appearances this spring set the single-season school record for work out of the bullpen.

Booden is one of three members from the 2012 Braves preparing to start his professional baseball career.  Senior pitcher Joe Bircher (Omaha, Neb./Roncalli Catholic H.S.), who was selected in the 10th round by the Houston Astros in last week's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, is expected to be assigned to the Tri-City ValleyCats in the rookie New York-Penn League.  In addition, junior shortstop Jason Leblebijian (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect H.S.), who was selected in the 25th round by Toronto, has signed with Blue Jays and is at the organization's spring training facility in Dunedin, Fla., awaiting his team assignment.

Braves in the Pros