HAHIRA — Myron Crowe, Hahira mayor, stopped short of renaming the town Drewville. But in their own way, the city and its mayor honored three of Hahira’s most renowned natives Wednesday, dedicating the city to the Drew brothers, J.D., Tim and Stephen.

All born in Hahira, the brothers were the first trio of siblings to be selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft and were all standouts at Lowndes High. For their past success and bright futures, the city celebrated the band of brothers by placing signs on the city’s main street in front of the courthouse and on U.S. 41 that read “Welcome to Hahira, Home of J.D., Tim and Stephen Drew.”

“It’s an honor and a privilege to have three siblings to accomplish what the Drew brothers have done,” Crowe said prior to proclaiming Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005, as Drew Day in Hahira. Crowe came up with the idea of naming the city as home of the Drews and passed it before the City Council.

Though the trio of brothers was reduced to two Wednesday — J.D. was in California where he will play next season with the Dodgers — Tim and Stephen were present to receive the city’s gift.

“It’s a huge honor to be raised in this community,” Tim Drew said. “It’s nothing that we have done. We’ve just done the best we can with the God-given ability we have.

“People always ask, ‘Where are you from?’ It’s not Valdosta or anywhere else. We claim Hahira.”

The oldest of the brothers, J.D., was unable to attend the dedication because he was in Los Angeles looking for a new house, Stephen said. J.D. became a free agent after leading the Atlanta Braves to their 13th consecutive division title in 2004. He signed a five-year, $55 million deal in the offseason with the Los Angeles Dodgers after reportedly turning down a three-year, $25 million offer from Atlanta.

Stephen, the youngest of the trio at 21, was drafted as the 15th overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2004 MLB draft but has yet to agree to a deal with the team. After a stellar junior year at Florida State, Stephen withdrew from school to continue negotiations with the Diamondbacks through his agent Scott Boras.

“Right now all I can do is negotiate,” Stephen said. “(The Diamondbacks) have got four new owners, and everything has just been a whirlwind. I think they’re going in the right direction, and hopefully I’ll be a piece of their puzzle.”

Stephen and Arizona have less than a month to agree to terms before spring training begins in February. If an agreement is not reached, Stephen will have the option of re-entering the draft next season like J.D. did coming out of Florida State.

Tim, a member of the Atlanta Braves with J.D. this past season, agreed to an offseason deal with the Colorado Rockies after becoming a free agent.

“Colorado showed a lot of interest, and I felt like God was opening another door for me to go minister out there so that’s one of the main reasons I’m headed to Colorado,” said Tim, who’ll have a chance to play with Hahira native and former Lowndes teammate Aaron Taylor in Colorado.

The Rockies’ spring training begins Feb. 18 in Tucson, Ariz., and their complex will neighbor the Diamondbacks’ spring training park. Tim said he hopes Stephen and Arizona work things out in the next few weeks so the two can spend time together during spring training.

Playing on a young Colorado club, Tim will have a good chance at earning a starting role in the Rockies’ rotation this season after spending several years on veteran-laden pitching staffs.

“I’m a starting pitcher, and that’s one of the things I was real excited about once (Colorado) called,” Tim said. “I’ve been a starter my entire career, and they want me to start. Hopefully I can get out there and win a starting job.”