September 30, 2010 at 9:33 PM
Red Sox sign independent leaguer Matty Johnson
The Red Sox have signed outfielder Matty Johnson from the Frontier League's Gateway Grizzlies. Johnson, 22, is a 2010 graduate of Bellevue University where he hit .429 with 58 RBI and 43 stolen bases in 83 games. This season with the Grizzlies, Johnson hit .313 in 182 at-bats with 24 stolen bases.Prior to Bellevue, Johnson played for Crowder College, earning first team NJCAA All-American and Rawlings Gold Glove honors. In 2008, he led Crowder with a .438 average and 27 extra-base hits.
The switch-hitting Johnson joins former Red Sox Morgan Burkhart as an alumnus of both Crowder and the Frontier League before signing a professional contract with Boston.