Former Triton Johnson waiting for return to spring training
GILBERT – Former Iowa Central standout Evan Johnson was just getting into his first official spring training with the Seattle Mariners when he was sent home to Iowa.
Johnson, who shined for the Tritons and Creighton University, signed a minor league contract with the Mariners shortly after the collegiate baseball season ended in 2019. He spent time with three teams, throwing a total of 56 innings with 55 strikeouts on the mound.
That earned him an invite to spring training in Peoria, Arizona with Seattle earlier this year before players the season was put on hold due to COVID-19.
“I went to camp early so I was there for a little over a month,” Johnson said. “Things were going well. There was great instruction and everything was as individualized as possible. They let players drive the process.”
Now, though, Johnson is training with his brother, Easton, a Creighton commit and current junior at Gilbert. And attempting to find “hot spots” to get in workouts.
“Most of the time we are staying at home, but we will go to the park each day and play catch,” Johnson said. “We’ve been kicked out of about three parks at this point.”
Johnson is also working on his conditioning to “stay ready for when they call us back,” but like others, he knows that it could be “awhile before we have baseball again.”
“I’m just treating it a little bit like the beginning of the offseason,” he added. “I’ve started to lift a lot and continue to work on my body to be in the best position possible when the season starts. We have plenty of workout equipment that we’ve accumulated over the years so that’s huge to be able to have access to it.”
Johnson made one start at advanced-A for the Modesto Nuts, throwing three innings and striking out five. He was moved to short-A and the Everett Aqua Sox after, seeing action in five games with two starts, recording 14 strikeouts in just over 14 innings.
In nine games with the West Virginia Power in the South Atlantic League, Johnson won two games, striking out 36 batters in 38 innings.
“I felt like my first season went well,” he said. “I was introduced to it. It’s a different style than college and I learned a lot while I was there.”
During the offseason, Johnson spent time in Omaha, throwing back at Creighton.
“This season, I have some specific measurable goals for my stuff,” Johnson said. “I want to throw with a higher average velocity, and I have a little bit of an idea what level I want to start and finish at this season.”