By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

The scouts are still knocking on Luke Bailey’s door.

Even though Bailey’s right arm is in a sling following Tommy John surgery a few weeks ago, and even if he’s still months away from doing anything baseball-related, the phone calls and the visits from representatives of different big-league franchises haven’t slowed.

“People still come to the house. People are still calling,” said Bailey, who just finished up four spectacular seasons playing catcher for the Troup Tigers. “I think they see that I’ll be back where I was.”

When healthy, Bailey was special.

Before his right elbow began bothering him, Bailey was being projected as a high first-round pick in June’s baseball draft.

One of the top hitters in the state, Bailey was also a terrific defensive player with a cannon for an arm.

His pop time, which measures the time it takes for the ball to make it to second base, was among the best in the country for prep players.

Bailey then started to feel pain in his elbow, and an examination revealed the extent of the injury.

He continued to play as a designated hitter until, following the Tigers’ final regular-season game, he went under the knife to have the elbow repaired.

Famed doctor James Andrews performed the ulnar collateral ligament surgery, more popularly known as Tommy John surgery.

Bailey wasn’t thrilled about the timing since he would miss the state playoffs, but he had to fit into Andrews’ busy schedule.

“He said it was either that next week or next month,” Bailey said.

Bailey figures he’ll be able to start hitting again in a few months, and within a year he’ll be 100 percent.

Bailey believes the injury will hamper his draft status, but he doesn’t think he’ll fall that far.

“I’ll drop. I probably won’t be in the first round,” said Bailey, who also has the option of playing for Auburn University. “But most guys say it won’t affect me that much.”

Bailey leaves quite a legacy at Troup.

A four-year starter, Bailey helped the Tigers make it to the Class AAA quarterfinals three straight seasons, and they finished second in Region 2-AAA this spring.

Bailey came into his own as a sophomore when he hit 12 home runs and drove in 44 runs.

Bailey elevated his game in 2008, hitting .505 with a school-record 13 home runs while knocking in 61 runs.

Although Bailey’s home-run total fell to six this season, his batting average rose to .569, and his average was an astounding .636 with men in scoring position.

Bailey also had 13 doubles, 30 RBIs, an on-base percentage of .641 and a slugging percentage of 1.000.

The 2009 numbers are especially impressive considering how often Bailey was pitched around.

“This year, I really tried to not hit as many home runs and get my average higher,” he said. “My goal was to hit .600. I didn’t quite do that, but it was a good year.”

Beyond high school, Bailey was an Aflac All-American last summer, and he helped lift USA Baseball’s Youth National Team to the World Youth Championship in 2007.

In the championship game against Brazil, Bailey hit a two-run home run in an 8-2 victory.

Troup coach Craig Garner calls Bailey one of the most gifted athletes he’s ever seen.

“You can’t coach a lot of what Luke Bailey’s been able to do,” Garner said. “You can fine tune and tweak, but you can see when kids have God given talent.”

Garner has enjoyed being able to pencil Bailey’s name in the lineup for four seasons.

“You don’t want one player to define your program, but he was an exception as far as one player that can determine the outcome of some games,” he said. “If we had him, we’re still playing right now.”

Bailey’s final game came against Spalding on May 2, the Tigers’ regular-season finale.

In typical Bailey fashion, he hit a home run in his first at-bat.

It was a fitting farewell for one of the best players in the history of the program.

Bailey knew that game would be his final one as a Tiger, and it was a difficult day.

“It was hard after that last game, knowing I was going to have surgery that Tuesday,” Bailey said. “It was tough.”

Bailey was at practice the day after his surgery, and he was the team’s top cheerleader during a first-round series against Perry.

“I tried real hard (to stay positive),” Bailey said. “I let them know we were bigger than one player.”

The Tigers missed Bailey, though.

The Tigers lost both games in the series 5-4 and 4-2, and their biggest shortcoming was an inability to hit with men on base.

In the first game alone, the Tigers left the bases loaded four times without scoring.

Despite the disappointment of missing the playoffs as a senior, Bailey has nothing but fond memories of his time at Troup.

The toughest thing about exiting the high-school stage, he said, is leaving his friends and teammates behind.

His closest friend on the team is fellow senior Blake Barber, who will play college baseball next season.

How much will he miss playing for Troup.

“Like crazy,” he said. “Those were some of the best years of of my life, especially playing with Blake. We’ve always been on the same team.”

Bailey isn’t looking back, though.

He can’t wait for the baseball draft on June 9 when he’ll receive the phone call he’s been waiting on for years.

Bailey doesn’t know what to expect on draft day since he’s been in contact with so many teams, including the home-state Atlanta Braves.

Whichever team takes him, Bailey knows it will be a thrilling moment when the call comes through.

“I really can’t imagine what that’ll be like,” Bailey said. “I’m ready for that day.”

As for his immediate future, with baseball out of the equation for the first time in a long time, Bailey is looking forward to doing some things that don’t include a bat and a ball.

“It’s been a long time since I haven’t (played baseball),” he said. “I’m looking forward to going to the beach.”