Drafted in the 4th round (130th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2005 (signed for $270,000).
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SS Dylan Johnston played on the losing side in the Arizona 5-A championship game and made a strong, late impression on scouts with his superior defensive play. He showed outstanding hands and arm strength, though he throws from a low arm slot. Johnston was one of the state's top hitters a year ago and was slow to get started with the bat this year before a late resurgence.
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Johnston starred as a high schooler in Arizona, leading Chandler's Hamilton High to state 5-A titles in 2003 and 2004 and a runner-up finish in 2005. Less than a year later, the Cubs gave him an at-bat in big league camp, and he responded with a long homer off future Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman. Johnston is still raw and years removed from being ready for the majors, but his bomb hinted at his upside. He has a quick bat and above-average potential. Chicago widened his setup and raised his hands in his stance when he immediately struggled in this 2005 pro debut, and he has further adjustments to make. He strikes out too much and will have to tone down his approach. He needs a lot of minor league at-bats, and he lost valuable development time when he severely sprained his ankle sliding into a base last July. He also had problems with a bone bruise in the webbing of his thumb after the Cubs tried to get him to grip the bat more toward his fingertips. Johnston has average speed and range. His strong arm and quick release allow him to make plays at shortstop, though he could outgrow the position as he fills out. Chicago thought enough of him to send him to low Class A as a 19-year-old, and he'll return there in 2007.
Johnston led Hamilton High (Chandler, Ariz.) to state 5-A titles in 2003 and 2004 and a runner-up finish in 2005. He hit better as a junior and stood out more with his glove as a senior, but his flashes of all-around brilliance got him drafted in the fourth round last June. Signed for $270,000, Johnston will be a long-term project with the possibility of an exciting payoff at the end. He needs polish in all phases of the game, and the Cubs began tweaking his stance after he went hitless in five of his first six pro games. They've widened his setup and raised his hands. Johnston has plus bat speed and power potential. He's an average runner with OK range at shortstop. He has good hands, well above-average arm strength and a quick release, but he needs to raise his low three-quarters arm slot. As he fills out, it's possible that Johnston will have to move to third base. He'll play shortstop in 2006, when he figures to open the season in extended spring training rather than with a full-season club.
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