Justin Morhardt is the 25th GHTBL player to turn pro since 2010.

People’s United Bank slugger and Bryan College catcher, Justin Morhardt was drafted in the 22nd round of the 2017 MLB Draft (650th pick overall) by the Atlanta Braves.

Morhardt, who hails from Winsted, Connecticut, was a 2017 NAIA second-team All-America baseball player. In his junior year, Morhardt set Bryan College baseball records with 86 hits and a .439 batting average.

Those inflated totals went along with 12 home runs, 20 doubles, 47 walks (second most in Lions history) and 51 runs batted in this season. As the Appalachian Athletic Conference player of the year, Morhardt had an on-base percentage of .551 and a slugging percentage of .724 for the most prolific Bryan offense in school history. 

Justin, like his father Greg Morhardt, his uncle, Darryl Morhardt and his grandfather, Moe Morhardt, is the fourth member of his family to go from the GHTBL to professional baseball. Moe Morhardt broke into the majors as pitcher with the Chicago Cubs in the 1960s.

Congratulations to the entire Morhardt family and we wish Justin all the best in his new job and pro baseball career!