Brian Johnson (pitcher)

Christopher Brian Johnson (born December 7, 1990 in Lakeland, Florida) is a professional baseball player with the Boston Red Sox organization. Johnson was part of the No. 1 recruiting class by Baseball America at the University of Florida and was named a freshman All-American by Baseball America, Yahoo! Sports, National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, and Louisville Slugger in 2010. Johnson also played for the collegiate national Team USA baseball squad in the summer of 2010. Johnson was one of only two freshmen in the entire country, the other being Gator teammate Nolan Fontana, to play for Team USA.^[1]

High school

Johnson graduated from Cocoa Beach High School in Cocoa Beach, Florida in 2009 and was coached during his high school baseball career by Matt Kellam and Rich Coleman.^[2] Johnson was named First-Team All-State in Florida in 2008 and 2009.^[3] Johnson was a five-year letterman for the Minutemen and was the Florida Today Baseball Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009.^[4] (Previous POYs include Prince Fielder in 2002 and Clint Hurdle in 1975). Johnson finished with 352 strikeouts in 252.2 career innings and a career BA of .481 with 98 runs, 40 doubles, 21 home runs and 95 RBI.^[5] Johnson also fired a 17-strikeout no-hitter vs. Space Coast High School in his senior year.^[6] Johnson was the No. 84 ranked player in the USA by Baseball America in 2009.^[4] He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 27th round of the 2009 MLB Draft but did not sign and went to college instead.

University of Florida

Johnson served as the No. 2/3 starting pitcher for the University of Florida Gators baseball team in 2010. Johnson's pitching repertoire features a low 90's fastball, changeup, and curveball. Johnson turned down the Los Angeles Dodgers to go to UF.^[7] He helped lead the Gators to their first College World Series appearance since 2005. The Gators were ranked as high as No. 2 in the country by Baseball America.^[8] Johnson was also named to the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award Watch list.^[9] The award, given to the top two-way player in America, was won by Mike McGee of Florida State University. The Gators were eliminated by Florida State University 8–5 in the CWS and finished with a regular season record of 47–17.

Johnson finished the season with a .405 batting average, five doubles, four home runs and 21 RBI. In his pitching statistics, he finished with a 6–4 record in 14 starts, 14 walks, 51 strikeouts and 73.2 innings pitched for a 4.03 ERA.^[10]

Johnson won the John Olerud Award in 2012.^[11]

Collegiate awards and honors

• 2012 – SEC Player of the Week (4/9/12–4/16/12)^[12]
• 2011 – Semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy^[13]
• 2011 – Semifinalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award^[14]
• 2011 – Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll^[15]
• 2011 – First Team Southeastern Conference Designated-Hitter selection^[16]
• 2011 – College World Series Participant^[15]
• 2010 – First-Team Southeastern Conference All-Freshmen Team (as pitcher and designated hitter)^[17]
• 2010 – First-Team Baseball America Freshmen All-American^[18]
• 2010 – First-Team Yahoo! Sports Freshman All-American^[19]
• 2010 – Second-Team National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Freshman All-American^[20]
• 2010 – Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American^[21]
• 2010 – Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll^[22]
• 2010 – Member of the Baseball America No. 1 recruiting class^[23]
• 2010 – College World Series participant^[24]
• 2010 – MVP of the Gainesville Regional^[25]
• 2010 – Two-Time SEC Freshmen of the Week^[26]
• 2010 – Member of the National Collegiate Team USA baseball team^[1]
• 2009 – 27th round draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers^[27]

Team USA

Johnson played for Team USA in the summer of 2010. Johnson finished second in appearances for the summer season with seven and he finished with the third-best ERA at 0.63 ERA. Johnson, the youngest player on the 23-man roster, finished with a 1–0 record, one save, 16 strikeouts, five walks and one earned run allowed in 14.1 innings pitched.^[28] Johnson helped lead Team USA to a second-place finish in the 2010 International University Sports Federation World Baseball Championships. They fell to Cuba 4–3 in the championship game in Tokyo, Japan on August 7, 2010.^[29]

Professional Career

Brian Johnson was drafted by the Boston Red Sox with the 31st pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft. He signed with the Red Sox on June 27.^[30]

Personal

Johnson's sister, Brooke, was a four-year letterman (2006–2009) for the Florida Gators softball team.^[31] Johnson's older brother, Billy Jr., played four years of college baseball, finishing his career with Flagler College.^[32] Brian's father, Billy Johnson, played football for Florida State University in the 1970s ^[33] Brian's uncle, Joe Williams, was the former head coach for Florida State University, Furman University, and Jacksonville University. Williams led JU to the 1970 NCAA Championship game vs. John Wooden-led UCLA.

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)