Three years ago, the LA Angels sent the first-ever MLB scout to the 2021 Homeschool World Series to check out Carrollton Storm pitcher Ryan Johnson. He put on a show for them, throwing from BOTH the right and left side, shutting out his opponents. Yesterday, the Angels ended their wait for the talented pitcher, making him the 74th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.
In the intervening 3 years, Ryan starred for Dallas Baptist University as a RHP, posting a 3.46 ERA and 1.10 WHIP, tallying 314 strikeouts in just 252 innings of work – a career record at DBU, while walking just 58.
A consensus All-American, Ryan was also named the 2024 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year in his junior season. dbupatriots.com notes that the program’s “strikeout king ranks in the top 10 in school history in eight categories, including first in strikeouts (314), second in WHIP (1.10), third in wins (22) and base on balls per nine innings (2.07), fourth in strikeouts per nine innings (11.20), sixth in ERA and innings pitched (252.0), and seventh in starts (40).”
With his 2nd round selection, Johnson becomes the highest HWSA alumnus ever taken in the MLB draft, supplanting… (wait for it…) his older brother M.D. Johnson, who was taken in the 6th round by the Miami Marlins in 2019, and is currently with their AA club in Pensacola, Florida. The future is bright for the Johnson brothers!
Show them what you’ve got Ryan… HWSA Nation will be watching and cheering for you!
(Originally reported by dbupatriots.com)