On June 14, Reggie Johnson '16 received a phone call that would change his life. Like many young men, he dreamed of playing baseball professionally, but according to the
Head Coach Jeff Kinne and Pitching Coach Robbie Bailey '10 were with Johnson when he got the call. They were thrilled at the news, which they heard about an hour after leaving a workout for three MLB teams. When asked what made Johnson stand out, Kinne said "he didn't miss a workout. He was driven and did it 110% from day one." Part of his determination was motivated by his family. From his start in t-ball at four years old, Johnson's family has encouraged him. Then his freshman year at H-SC, he made a promise to his grandmother shortly before she passed. He told her he would play professionally, a promise he worked hard to keep.
During his time with
Johnson started with the Gulf Coast League Astros but was transferred to the Greeneville Astros June 30, where he was greeted by a friendly face. Jack Elliott '16, Johnson's former apartment mate, is an Operations Assistant with the Houston Astros and is also located in Greeneville. While both are busy with their respective jobs, they get to cross paths most days. Now that Johnson has been in Greeneville for a few weeks, he said the experience is how he expected it to be. "[There are] long days at the field but I love every second of it...[Kinne and Bailey] made it very clear that you can't just like it, you have to love it because it'll be tough and there is always someone else trying to take your spot."
This accomplishment is not only a reflection of
