Brian Johnson - Promising Debut
Thursday, February 25, 2010 | Baseball
By Stephen Kerkhof, UF Communications
Although Florida pitcher Brian Johnson may be a freshman, he performed like a seasoned veteran in his first career Division I start. The left-hander tossed 5.2 scoreless innings in last Saturday's 9-1 UF defeat of in-state foe USF. Scattering just three hits and issuing zero walks, while collecting three strikeouts, the southpaw gave the crowd of 3,723 fans at McKethan Stadium a glimpse into what promises to be a very bright future for the Florida starter.
In high school, Johnson was known for his ability to pound the strike zone and that is exactly what he has shown so far wearing the Orange and Blue. The Gator coaching staff lauded his command in preseason practices and mentioned him among the best pitchers on a talented staff. In his first regular-season start, Johnson showed that he could live up to preseason expectations. In fact, the southpaw completed his stint on the mound while throwing only 65 pitches, rarely missing the strike zone.
“I just wanted to throw strikes and make the batters hit my pitch,” Johnson said of his approach going into his first college outing. “I try to get ahead in the count quick. It helps with the pitch count and helps me out in the long run.”
Just as impressive as his command was Johnson's demeanor on the field. His high comfort level on the mound is something not usually seen from a pitcher getting his first start of the season, especially with the heightened expectations that the Gator baseball team brings into the start of the season. Seeing that composure from a freshman is even more impressive.
“I was excited,” Johnson said about his feelings before the game. “A little bit nervous, but I was just ready to get out there and do it. I had some jitters in the locker room waiting to throw but when I started warming up I was ready to go.”
That confidence was not shaken throughout the game. After giving up a single to the game's first batter, Johnson induced three routine ground balls to end the first inning. He never allowed more than one base-runner in any inning en route to his first win of the season as UF clinched the weekend series between Sunshine State rivals.
For many players, the leap from high school to the college level can be overwhelming and often an adjustment period is needed, even expected. However, Johnson's performance throughout the team's practices gave the indication that he was ready to hit the ground running. The Cocoa Beach, Fla., native credits his ability to throw strikes, especially early in the count to hitters, as the main reason the transition has been so smooth for him.
“I would say that I am the same pitcher I was in high school. I have always thrown a lot of strikes and have developed my changeup a lot more so I have a new pitch to work into my game,” Johnson added.
The biggest change for Johnson from his high school days is the larger stage on which games are played.
“The fans were the most different thing for me. Usually, we would have maybe 100 people for the games at Cocoa Beach High School, and that includes both teams' fans, so all of the people last weekend were a big difference. It was a lot more fun and exciting to play in front of that many fans,” Johnson said of the Gator faithful. “That is why I came to Florida. I wanted to play in front of these fans and for a winning team.”
Although it has not seemed to be an issue for the big lefty, adjusting to the game speed has also required some getting used to.
“The hitters are a lot smarter and the game is faster,” Johnson said. “You really cannot afford to miss with these hitters.”
The reviews so far have been good for the freshman left-hander. Johnson's early performance appears to have made him a likely staple in Florida's weekend rotation for years to come and another in the long line of youngsters looking to contribute early in their careers toward a promising season for the Gators.
Johnson's next start will come when he gets the nod against La Salle on Saturday in the second weekend series of the season for UF at McKethan Stadium.
-UF-
