Drafted in the 3rd round (78th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1998 (signed for $220,000).
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While people may have been ready to write off Johnson, he decided he was ready to get his career going. Johnson hadn't made it past Class A and had a .217 average to show for six years of pro ball before 2004. He finally got to Double-A last year and had his best offensive season by far, another reclamation project credited to Tennessee hitting coach Steve Balboni. Johnson's swing didn't change much, but his approach improved significantly and he started using the whole field. He stopped focusing on power, concentrating instead on making quality contact and pulling balls only when he was pitched inside. He's adequate on defense, but he's so slow that one scout said, "He couldn't catch a dead man in a funeral home." Johnson played 16 games at catcher last year, showing enough arm and aptitude for the position that the Cardinals think he could be a big league utility player if he keeps hitting. He'll try to continue his progress in Triple-A.
Johnson played shortstop, but the Cardinals tried to make him a catcher after drafting him. He was making progress on defense, but he was struggling on offense, so the organization moved him to third base part-time in 2000 and full-time by 2001. He opened 2001 in high Class A and was sent down after striking out 113 times in 281 at-bats. The Cardinals were left with a player whose confidence was shattered, so they sent him back to Peoria in 2002 and decided to keep him there all year. He showed good power and got his career back on track. Johnson isn't huge but is a strong, well-proportioned athlete. His bat profiles at third base if he can cut down on his strikeouts and make more consistent contact. As his background shows, he has the tools to play just about anywhere. To succeed at third, he'll have to improve his range and footwork. He has plenty of arm for the position, as well as quick feet and good hands. Johnson is ready to move forward again after getting behind in his progress. He'll move to Palm Beach and try to catch up.
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