Red Raider Profile: Zach Johnson
November 23, 2010 | Baseball
Nov. 23, 2010
Red Raider Profile - Zach Johnson
LUBBOCK, Texas - Although the Texas Tech baseball team has wrapped up its fall season, Texas Tech Athletics Communications will continue taking an inside look into the Tech program with Red Raider Profiles on each player.
Zach Johnson (RHP - 6-4, 190 - R/R -Fr./HS - Champaign, Ill./Saint Thomas More)
When glancing at the Texas Tech baseball roster, one simple question might be asked, "How did the kid from Champaign, Ill., end up a Red Raider?"
The answer is pretty simple. Not only did Johnson have standout prep career at Saint Thomas More High School, he was also born in Lubbock with both his parents (Barry and Janeen) graduating from Texas Tech University.
Johnson, a 6-foot-4-inch right-hander, went 8-1 with a 1.09 ERA in 64.2 innings pitched during his senior season. He struck out 78 batters while only walking 27. He was named first team all-conference as he guided his team to conference and regional championships with a 24-7 overall record. He was the team leader in wins, ERA, strikeouts and saves (3).
The summer before enrolling at Tech, Johnson pitched for the Champaign Dream, where he went 7-0 with a 0.57 ERA in 49 innings pitched with 38 strikeouts.
"Zach Johnson did a good job this fall," head coach Dan Spencer said. "He is a very competitive kid. Right now we are working with his strength and we also have him on a long-toss program. Zach Johnson's future is very bright."
Johnson is the first player from the state of Illinois to play for the Red Raiders since shortstop Jason Books (Mt. Vernon, Ill.) in 1993.
