Outfielder Johnson looking forward to spring season
For a dietetics major, Justin Johnson knows what kind of diet he has to follow to be successful on the field.
Johnson plays right field for the Utah State baseball team, where he has been for the last three seasons.
Johnson said he has been playing baseball since he was 6 years old. As a fourth grader, he said he was able to play in a Little League World Series tournament.
“It was good experience,” Johnson said. “It was a lot of fun so it kept me playing, which helped me improve over the years.”
His high school in Nebraska didn’t have a varsity baseball team, Johnson said, so he came to Utah and played for the Logan High Grizzlies. He was a pitcher and a shortstop when he played for the Grizzlies, but Johnson said he loves playing in the outfield.
“It gives you more time to work on your hitting since the infield is more of a skill position,” Johnson said. “But there’s nothing like diving for a ball or throwing someone out at the plate.”
After high school, Johnson played baseball for Ricks College (now Brigham Young University-Idaho). He said that he didn’t enjoy playing much there, so he decided to play for Utah State.
“It’s much more relaxed here,” Johnson said. “It’s a great atmosphere.”
The coaches allow the players to perform to the best of their abilities because of their attitude toward the game, Johnson said. They schedule good teams to play and there are great teammates, he said.
As the fall season comes to an end, Johnson said he is looking forward to the spring so the Aggies can get to work on their goals for the season.
Brett Al-Imari, the head coach of the baseball team, likes to play small ball and advance the runners, Johnson said. It’s the little things that help them play good games as a team, he said.
“We all want to win the World Series this year,” Johnson said. “Brett’s expertise will help us out a lot.”
It’s not all on the coaching staff, though. Johnson said he’s looking forward to helping the younger guys play well along with the rest of the team so everyone can meet their potential.
So far this season Johnson has been the team’s most consistent offensive threat, Al-Imari said – which is nothing new, since Johnson was voted to the All-Conference first team at the end of the 2002-2003 season.
In two games against the University of Colorado earlier this season, Johnson hit two home runs – one a grand slam, and drove in eight runs.
“It is unusual because I’m not a power hitter,” Johnson said, “I’m a situational hitter. I usually try to hit for average.”
Johnson said he doesn’t swing for the fences. He prepares before each at bat timing the pitcher and knowing what kind of pitches he throws.
When he’s up to bat he said he likes to drive the ball the other way and try to advance the runners for the big hitters behind him in the order.
The opportunities to play baseball diminish with each passing week of fall so the baseball team will soon start working out indoors only, Johnson said.
“During the winter, we don’t get to see live pitching and we throw a lot to keep our arms in shape,” Johnson said.
He said their coach is a physical trainer so he gives the players workouts to keep their bodies in shape. Mostly, they just try to stay sharp throughout the winter months, Johnson said.
Johnson said that it’s easier to keep up with the workouts though, since the spring season is the one that counts.
“Without a doubt the spring season is the best time of the year,” Johnson said.
With his off-season regimen, Johnson, and the rest of the baseball team, should be ready to bloom in the spring into the national title contenders they want to be.
-krn@cc.usu.edu