Determination Fuels Daniel Johnson’s Rise
High Class A Potomac outfielder Daniel Johnson’s determination has helped him overcome rejection and injury. Now his focus is on improving his discipline at the plate, and he has been up for the task.
Johnson has been swinging at more hitter’s pitches, which has allowed him to hit .314/.359/.488 with three home runs in his first 20 games in the Carolina League. At low Class A Hagerstown, he hit .300/.361/.529 with 17 homers. His 20 home runs tied him with Triple-A Syracuse’s Neftali Soto for the most in the Nationals system this season.
“It’s just all about letting the game come to me and having a feel for what to do,” said the 22-year-old Johnson.
Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson said Johnson has progressed in all areas.
“One thing, his strike-zone discipline has gotten better—even during the season,” Anderson said. “He’s doing better with two strikes. His approach is allowing his tools to play. Tools-wise, he always had bat speed and strength in his swing. He barrels the ball and handles pitches that are middle-away.”
The 2016 fifth-round pick out of New Mexico State is a native of Vallejo, Calif. He tried to join the Aggies out of high school and thought he had a spot as a preferred walk-on who could pitch and play in the field. Instead, he didn’t make the team and moved on to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M JC.
Then Johnson returned to New Mexico State, which had a new coaching staff. He won a roster spot even as he came back from a torn ACL and partially torn meniscus in his right knee.
The surgery hasn’t slowed down Johnson, who has a plus arm and has improved his routes in center field and right field.
“I played mostly center field growing up, but I have years of experience at each (position), and I really like right field, too,” Johnson said. “I know I have a strong arm. I just have to work on accuracy.”
CAPITAL GAINS
• Righthander Joan Baez returned to Potomac after working on his mechanics with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League club. While he was in the GCL, the 22-year-old was part of a tandem of no-hitters in a pair of seven-inning wins in a doubleheader against the GCL Marlins. Baez pitched six innings and Jose Jimenez one in one no-hitter. In the other, Jared Johnson pitched four innings and Gilberto Chu three.
— Lacy Lusk is a writer based in Virginia
Comments are closed.