LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Atlanta Braves made a longterm commitment to Brian McCann, agreeing Thursday to a six-year contract with the All-Star catcher.

Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann, right, gets a high five from on-deck batter Craig Wilson after McCann hit a solo home run in the second inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Sunday, March 18, 2007. The Braves won 4-3. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)

The deal with McCann, who has less than two years of major league service, includes a club option for 2013. McCann, just 23, hit a team-high .333 with 24 homers and 93 RBIs last season.

"This is really a historical and unprecedented kind of commitment for the Atlanta Braves," general manager John Schuerholz said.

McCann was born in Athens, Ga., and lives in Duluth, near Atlanta.

"Atlanta is where I want to play. It's where I grew up," McCann said. "Not many people can say that."

Schuerholz said the contract doesn't set a trend for the team but is a reflection of McCann's unusual accomplishments so early in his career.

"He made the All-Star team at a very early age and he's one of the top catchers in the game today," Schuerholz said. "He made the All-Star team. He won the Silver Slugger award and the pitchers love throwing to him. That's as important as anything. He's a special type guy, so we wanted to do something special."

Atlanta, in the process of being sold from Time Warner Inc. to Liberty Media Corp., faces some big decisions later this year. Center fielder Andruw Jones and pitcher John Smoltz both are eligible for free agency after the season.