The Bourne Braves have been known to produce top-level MLB talent. Pete Alonso, Alec Burleson, and Gavin Williams are just a few of the many well-known names in the majors who originated in Bourne.

Just a month ago, the next batch of Braves talent advanced to the professional level. In the 2026 MLB Draft, 27 former Bravos were selected over 20 rounds. After the draft, four more Braves alumni signed as undrafted free agents.

Though the talent on the field is undeniable, Bourne has also proven to produce off the field. After their playing careers, many former Braves players stay in the baseball world working behind the scenes. Bourne also has a strong intern network, with many going on to work in baseball or media once they graduate.

Jaron Long is an example of Bourne producing talent both on and off the field. In 2012 and 2013, Long was a pitcher for the Braves. Over his two seasons, the righty posted an 8-1 record with a 2.04 ERA in 66.1 innings.

“It’s more of a pitcher’s league, so as a pitcher you enjoy being out there and getting to face the wood bats,” said Long about his time in Bourne. “I got to do two summers, which was fun. I came back and was super familiar with everything, and I had a great, great host family. It was two of the best summers I ever had playing baseball.”

After his collegiate career at Ohio State, Long signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Yankees — the organization where his dad, Kevin Long, served as a hitting coach. Jaron spent six seasons in the minor leagues, where he had a 3.44 career ERA.

Once he finished his professional baseball career in 2018, Long began to pursue a career as an agent. He was hired as an agent with the Boras Corporation, which is known to represent some of the most prominent players in the majors. After just over two and a half years there, he moved to his current role as an agent with VaynerSports.

While working there, he met Logan Hughes. The 17th overall pick by the Houston Astros in this year’s draft had just finished his freshman year at Stetson.

“He [Long] was family friends with a buddy of mine and he connected us. We have been working together ever since,” said Hughes.

The following year, Hughes transferred to play at Texas Tech. In two seasons there, he had a career batting average of .350 with 37 home runs and 150 RBI.

In the summer of 2025, in the middle of his time as a Red Raider, Hughes looked for a place to play summer ball. Long, with his connections to the Braves, was the link between Hughes and the Braves and helped him get to Bourne for the summer.

“I told the coaches over at Texas Tech that I’d had a great experience in Bourne,” said Long. “Once I mentioned his name and Texas Tech mentioned his name to the Braves, they jumped on it. I think between my connection and my endorsing it, both sides felt that it was a good fit… It was pretty cool to go back and see him play. It’s a special place to me.”

Hughes started the 2025 season with the Braves. In 24 games, the lefty batted .265 with two home runs, nine RBI, and an OPS of .759.

“I met a lot of people and worked with some good coaches who helped me get better,” said Hughes about his experience in Bourne. “The Cape was tough, but it was a lot of fun.”

After he left in the middle of July, the Braves went on to win their third championship of the last four years. According to the Astros' first-round pick, there was something special about that Braves team early in the season.

“There were a ton of really good players, a lot of whom ended up getting drafted this year,” said Hughes. “You could also tell by the way everyone in Bourne handled business. It was a winning environment.”

Hughes and Long weren’t the only Bourne connections in this summer’s draft. In the fourteenth round of this year’s draft, right-handed pitcher Edwin Alicea was selected by the Detroit Tigers. Alicea was a member of this year’s Braves team, having appeared in two games out of the bullpen and thrown 6.1 shutout innings.

“I was only there for just over a week, but I liked it a lot,” said Alicea about his time as a Brave. “Everyone was very welcoming: the coaching staff, the team, the fans. It was cool to get to experience that.”

Helping the Tigers work to draft Alicea was Joey Lothrop, a former intern with the Braves’ organization. Lothrop spent two seasons in Bourne, 2016 and 2017, working as a baseball operations intern. This role involved helping the team recruit players, developing scouting reports, and working as assistants to the coaching staff.

After Lothrop graduated from school, he immediately joined the Tigers organization as an amateur scouting intern. After helping Detroit prepare for the 2018 draft, where they selected Casey Mize with the first overall pick, Lothrop joined the Tigers as a full-time area scout. This past draft was his eighth with the organization.

“I was so lucky to be in Bourne and spend those two summers there,” said Lothrop. “I understand why everyone talks so highly of it. It was a great way to spend two summers. I always refer to it as ‘Baseball Heaven.’”

The two draftees, Hughes and Alicea, have both signed contracts with the organizations that drafted them. After initial testing with their respective teams, they each reported to play rookie ball in the MLB’s Florida Complex League.