SAL notes: Johnson excels after big break

Don't expect Jonathan Johnson to explain the inner workings of the MLB Draft. After all, despite some moderate expectations, Savannah's All-Star second baseman never had his name called the three times he was eligible.

The gritty infielder received interest from several Division I programs throughout Southern California as well as a handful of Major League organizations prior to graduating from Lakewood High School in California in 2007. He proceeded to play four seasons at Loyola Marymount for head coach Jason Gill and earned All-West Coast Conference honors while hitting a cumulative .296. Even though he had success at every level, including on scout teams as well as in the Alaska League during the summer, Johnson was left without pro offer once he graduated.

"I got a lot of sniffs and a couple of calls but nothing ever turned out or went my way in the Draft," Johnson said. "It's a mystery to me and I still don't understand it. You go into it with high hopes before Day 1 goes by and you say, 'Oh man.' Then day two, day three, the same thing."

After being bypassed following his senior season at LMU, Johnson did not hear from any scouts about the possibility of signing as a non-drafted free agent. As he reluctantly began to believe his playing days had come to an end, Bobby Brown, one of Johnson's summer ball coaches from Alaska, called and asked what he was doing.

Brown arranged a tryout for Johnson with Shreveport-Bossier in the American Association. He made the team and played half of the 2011 season prior to being traded to the St. Louis-based Gateway Grizzlies in the Frontier League. A year later he established the league record by getting on base in 65 straight games and played in 191 of 192 contests over the 2012 and 2013 campaigns.

"I loved it there -- it's a great place to play baseball," Johnson said. "They had the Cardinals right across the street from us, but the fans filled up our ballpark every night. The fans were awesome. They treated us very well, and they made the games exciting."

Johnson was back with the Grizzlies in 2014 and among the league leaders in runs, walks and stolen bases when his manager, Phil Warren, informed the infielder that his contract had been purchased by the New York Mets. Though startled when told on June 21 that he was headed for the affiliated ranks, Johnson said it was the next step in fulfilling a dream.

"I don't know what I did," Johnson said. "I was just out there doing what I've always done. I've played the same way since high school and college and carried that same approach into pro ball. Phil Warren loved the way I played the game. I did that for two-and-a-half years and caught someone's eye within the Mets organization. It came out of nowhere. I was very surprised that it happened during what I thought would probably be my last season. I was just going out and having fun and enjoying my time there and got the opportunity that I had been waiting for for so long."

Johnson batted .238 in 39 games at Savannah in 2014 and provided excellent defense in the infield. He has been even better this year during his encore in the South Atlantic League. Through June 9, Johnson led the circuit with a .421 on-base percentage and ranked second with a .326 batting average. He has added nine doubles, two triples, a home run, 10 RBIs and nine stolen bases, and he's the second-hardest player to strike out, with one whiff per 12.36 plate appearances.

The key, according to Johnson, has been his ability to make adjustments with the help of Savannah hitting coach Valentino Pascucci, who, like Johnson, hails from Lakewood, California. The minor alterations combined with outstanding glovework and an all-out approach has the 26-year-old receiving credit with an All-Star nod and hoping that additional opportunities await in the near future.

"Hopefully I keep moving up -- that's the plan," Johnson said. "I like being here, but it's not where I want to be. I don't want to stop and I'm going to keep playing until they make me stop. I'm really enjoying this and I want to keep making the most of the opportunities I receive."

In brief

Pushing 'em up: Sacrifice bunts have been a key component of the Power's offense through the first 58 games. West Virginia has dropped down 43 sacrifice bunts, the most in the Minors. Second baseman Pablo Reyes tops the SAL with eight. Outfielder Tito Polo is right behind Reyes with seven sacrifice bunts, while outfielder Elvis Escobar and shortstop Cole Tucker are tied for third on the team with six apiece.

All-Star worthy: Savannah's Casey Meisner proved why he was named an All-Star. The 6-foot-7 right-hander scattered six hits over seven innings while striking out six and walking one in a 9-1 victory over West Virginia. Meisner has allowed one earned run or fewer in seven of his 10 starts and is 6-1 with a 1.82 ERA. In his last four starts, the 20-year-old from Cypress, Texas, is 4-0 and has allowed only four earned runs over 29.1 innings (1.23 ERA).

So long to the long ball: Despite playing home games in one of the friendlier hitters' ballparks in the SAL, Hickory's starting pitchers are stingy allowing the long ball. Crawdads starters have not allowed a home run in 27 straight games, covering 138 2/3 innings, upon entering the team's contest June 10. Collin Wiles (6-1, 1.92 ERA) has not surrendered a home run in 51 2/3 innings this season. Luis Ortiz (3-1, 1.71) has given up one round-tripper in 42 frames, and Brett Martin (3-2, 2.93) has allowed only two in 40 innings.

Crawdads lose key component: Hickory suffered a setback in its push for the first-half title last week when second baseman Travis Demeritte received an 80-game suspension after testing positive for Furosemide, a banned substance. The Rangers' first-round pick in 2013 was in his second season with the Crawdads, hitting .241 with five home runs and 19 RBIs in 48 games after leading the low Class A ranks with 25 long balls in 2014.