June 4, 2012 at 10:20 PM
Red Sox select Brian Johnson with 31st pick
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| Brian Johnson (University of Florida) |
With the 31st overall pick in the draft, the Red Sox have selected Brian Johnson, a junior left-handed pitcher from the University of Florida.
Johnson, a 6'3" southpaw, was known as one of the top two-way players in the country as he had success both on the mound and at the plate. He went 8-4 with a 3.56 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 86.0 innings pitched. At the plate, Johnson hit .310/.350/.455 with 5 home runs and 40 RBI.
Known for his control, Johnson throws a 88-91 mph fastball with a slider, curve and changeup. He profiles as a back of the rotation starter who must maintain his penchant for throwing strikes and having solid control in order to be successful.
Drafted out of Cocoa Beach High School in the 27th round of the 2009 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Johnson pitched for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in the Cape Cod League last summer, compiling a 2-0 record with a 4.30 ERA and 19 strikeouts and 4 walks in 14.2 innings.
A two-time member of the USA Collegiate National Team, the hope is that Johnson will develop further as a pitcher as he focuses his full attention on the mound.
The slot bonus for the 31st overall pick is $1,575,000. The Red Sox have been given a pool of $6,884,800 for all of their picks in the first ten rounds of the draft.
John Gray is a Senior Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @JohnRGray.