Major league draft for the 'Birds' for N.B. pitcher
Published Thursday June 11th, 2009
Johnson | Baltimore grabs lefthander with 5th pick in 25th round
Jay Johnson knew something was up when shortly after he stepped out of his Lethbridge, Alta. apartment Wednesday afternoon, he heard screams of delight from his mother Rhonda and his girlfriend Stacey.
Both women were huddled near a computer, listening to the second day of the Major League Baseball draft when Jay's name was announced as the fifth selection of the 25th round.
The 19-year-old Sussex Corner resident, who was born in Grand Manan, is now a pitching prospect for the Baltimore Orioles, who have the right to sign the left-handed pitching standout until Aug. 15.
"I was listening the whole time," said Johnson, who along with his brother Aaron, were the only New Brunswickers pegged to go in the draft by www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com.
"Then I went outside and all I heard was my mom and my girlfriend and they were going crazy. I knew it was either my brother or me."
Jay became the 10th New Brunswicker ever selected in the MLB draft and the first since Aaron was picked by Milwaukee in 2006.
He was identified for his work with the Prairie Baseball Academy in Lethbridge, where he has hit 94 miles an hour on the radar gun.
His coach Blair Kubicek, thought Jay was a lock to go in the first 12 rounds but a wrist injury created some doubt.
"His character is his biggest strength," said Kubicek. "I have been coaching college baseball for 25 years and he is the most competitive young man I have ever had in any program I have ever had - just ahead of his brother Aaron."
Jay was highly rated until that freak injury in April that occurred when he hit a pop fly and collided with an infielder, jamming his wrist in what was described as a clean break
The setback, the third arm injury of his career, put him on the shelf for the key scouting period immediately prior to the draft and ultimately dropped him to the middle rounds.
Like his coach, Jay felt he might go higher but was not complaining Wednesday.
"It didn't really matter with me because with my injury, I wasn't going to be able to get a contract until I pitched this summer and people saw me again," he said. "It makes you feel better if you went higher but the 25th round is good enough."
Being selected by the Orioles was an added bonus.
"Baltimore is my dad's favorite team," Jay said of his father Bill. "When we were young, we were always watching them and Cal Ripken."
Jay, officially listed as a six-foot-two, 210-pound pitcher, is going to play with the Lethbridge Bulls of the Western Major Baseball League or in Rochester of the Northwoods league, a top collegiate loop where his brother Aaron will also play this summer.
That could change after he receives instructions from the Orioles' organization, who will want to assess his arm strength and recovery this summer.
"My arm feels good," he said. "My wrist is healthy and I am at about 85 per cent. It doesn't hurt to throw, it just hurts a bit when I am lifting. Other than that, it feels really good to throw."
Baltimore has until Aug. 15 to sign Jay to a deal or they lose their exclusive negotiation rights.
For now, though, the N.B. star is breathing easier.
The draft started with three main rounds and two other compensatory rounds Tuesday. Then, it picked up with the fourth round Wednesday morning and zipped through with 810 picks in just over five hours.
It wraps up with rounds 31-50 today.
"I am just relieved I don't have to sleep another night waiting," Jay said. "After what I went through today (waiting), I don't want any more of that."
Kubicek says Jay has an outstanding fastball as well as a slider, change up and, "a willingness to kick your (butt)."
The Johnson family focus will now turn to Aaron, the power-hitting catcher who spent the past two years with the University of Illinois Fighting Illini.
The 6-foot, 210 pound catcher was drafted by Milwaukee in 2006 but failed to sign with the organization and eventually landed in Champagne, Ill. He was also eligible for the draft and remains in a holding pattern. Aaron could return to the Fighting Illini for his senior year and Jay signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Texas Tech in the fall.
Of course, professional decisions are front and centre until Aug. 15.
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