Johnson named Devil Rays' Double-A player of the year

By Brian Wright, Sports Editor
Published on Wednesday, October 4, 2006 4:45 PM MST

When Elliot Johnson graduated from Thatcher High School in 2002, he wasn't sure where his baseball career was headed.

After the 2002 Major League Baseball draft came and went without Johnson getting any calls, he just assumed he wasn't good enough to be drafted. He wouldn't have to wait too much longer, however, for the call.

A shortstop for the Eagles, Johnson was one of 50 Arizona high school baseball players invited to participate at the Super 50 All-Star game at Chase Field in Phoenix in 2002.

An impressive performance in that game caught a Tampa Bay Devil Ray scout's eye. He asked Johnson for his phone number and eventually called him with an offer by the Devil Rays.

Johnson signed as an undrafted free agent with the Devil Rays on June 29, 2002. He was ecstatic that someone was going to pay him to play baseball for a career.

"It was awesome. It's what I always wanted to do," he said.

Johnson just finished taking home Player of the Year honors for the Devil Rays' Double-A affiliate Montgomery Biscuits. He also led the Biscuits to the 2006 Southern League Championship.

Johnson put up career-best numbers despite being hampered by nagging injuries in the second half of the season.

A switch-hitter who now plays second base and bats leadoff, Johnson batted .281 with 15 homers and 50 RBI. He also posted a .335 on-base percentage and stole 20 bases.

His first full season in Double-A, Johnson finished fifth in the Southern League with 139 hits and was one of only six minor league players to reach double digits in doubles (21), triples (10) and homers (15).

Johnson was the starting second baseman for the South Division's midseason All-Star team, and shone with the glove committing the second-fewest errors (13) at his position in the Southern League and finishing third in fielding percentage (.976).

Johnson worked very hard on his defense, saying he practiced constantly to improve in the field. He said his glovework is far better now than it was just a few years ago.

Johnson may have saved his best performance of the season for when it mattered the most. In the championship-clinching win over the Huntsville Stars on Sept. 15, Johnson batted for the team's first-ever cycle, going 4-5 with three RBIs.

He singled in the first inning, tripled in the second, homered in the fourth and doubled in the seventh.

"I was really proud of that," Johnson said.

Johnson started out playing in Princeton, West Va. for the Devil Rays' Rookie League team in 2002.

Johnson said the jump in the level of competition from high school to Rookie League was amazing.

He said in high school, a team might face a pitcher who throws 90 mph once every 10 games or so. He said everyone throws 90 mph in the minor leagues.

Johnson talked about the challenges of moving up in the farm system. In Rookie League and Single-A ball, hitters see a lot of fastballs.

Most good hitters can hit a fastball. Johnson said Double-A is different because pitchers start throwing a lot more breaking balls (curveballs, sliders, etc.).

Most players who make it to Double-A have the ability to play in the major leagues. The pitchers there are much tougher than in the lower levels of the minor leagues. Johnson said hitters have to step up to that challenge.

"Anyone who can hit - you give them some time and they'll adjust," he said.

Johnson said the prevailing opinion is that if a player can succeed at Double-A, they most likely can play in the majors.

He has been told by the Montgomery coaching staff that it's very likely he will play for the Triple-A Durham Bulls in 2007. Johnson feels he's ready for the next step.

"I don't think I have anything left to prove in Double-A," he said.

Johnson will also join the major league Devil Rays for spring training the upcoming season. Fans can catch Devil Rays spring training in St. Petersburg, Fla. in March 2007.

Johnson's meteoric rise through the minors has been nothing short of sensational. This small-town guy could be playing for a big-league team very soon.

Johnson, 22, was born in Safford and now resides in Tempe with his fiancee Nicole. Their wedding is set for Jan. 12 in Scottsdale.

Johnson has a brother, Leon, who was also drafted by the Devil Rays. He was taken in the 45th round of the MLB draft in 2005.

Leon is currently on his Mormon mission in Russia.

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Comments

10 comment(s)

Ian Mccartney wrote on Sep 17, 2008 4:20 PM:

" I went to this camp in the summer of 05 when they were located in concho. I highly doubt that vallentine is telling the truth because when i went they was plenty of food. I remeber that they made us but on spf 50 sunscreen by the gallons. They provided us with gallons of water a day. I think that denton should have stayed in concho because it was a lot better. Big deal the recruits have no ac or water. what to expect bootcamp to be a vaction? And by the way the dirt isnt going to kill you "

H. Craig Bradley wrote on Apr 18, 2008 5:29 PM:

" The percentage of Americans who recreate in the wild outdoors of our National Forests is shrinking all the time. Today's America is predominately an urban/suburban America. Increasingly, individuals can not part with their IPods, Cell Phones, Laptop Computers and Navigational Aides (GPS). Roughing it outdoors is an experience that fewer and fewer individuals are getting "

Anonymous wrote on Apr 3, 2008 5:06 PM:

" Why not tell these people and organizations how you feel?

Vice Principal Kerry Wilson
Principal Robert Beeman
Superintendent Mark Tregaskes
Safford, Arizona Middle School

734 11Th Street
Safford, AZ 85546
Phone Number: (928) 348-7040

http://az.localschooldirectory.com/schools_info.php/school_id/3495 "

THS Alum 2004 wrote on Mar 20, 2008 4:21 PM:

" I graduated with these guys and it's sad to say that I'm really not that surprised. They're meat heads and are a "few fries short of a happy meal". The authorities did nothing wrong, these people made a dumb choice and will have to deal with the consequences.

P.S. Doug did it. "

blah wrote on Mar 6, 2008 8:29 AM:

" Whatever "

colton wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:02 PM:

" i think doug grant is innocent an i think you should not charge him for murder "

saline wrote on Jan 29, 2008 2:01 PM:

" hello hello hello hello hello hello "

Michael Jackson wrote on Dec 11, 2007 3:02 PM:

" Why doesn't this newspaper admit that the story reported by Pam Crandall, as related by Jesse MacBeth, in the above article, is a flat out lie??? MacBeth has since admitted that he did not go to Iraq and that he made up all of the stories repeated by Pam Crandall. Please tell the truth. The longer that the Courier stands by these lies the sillier it looks. "

Jesu Christ! wrote on Oct 25, 2007 8:53 PM:

" And the authorities wonder why it is that students have so little respect for authority. If I were this kid (or the kid's mother) I would never look at authority the same way again. "

Daniel Connell wrote on Oct 23, 2007 9:35 AM:

" i am writting to say that this was a harmless prank and just a little fun for these two innocent teenagers. they should have not gotten in that much trouble for just a harmless prank. being a friend to them you wouldnt see it in my view. they were just looking to have fun in safford because there is nothing else to do and jose hernandez should have not been sent to ADJC on his first crime he ever commited. "

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