Johnson Selected To Coach In USA Development Program

DURHAM, N.C. – Arkansas pitching coach Wes Johnson has been selected as part of the coaching staff for the 2017 17U National Team Development Program (NTDP), announced today by USA Baseball.

The development program for the 17U USA National Team will consist of 40 athletes that will be assessed by former professional players, professional scouts, and respected collegiate and high school coaches, including Johnson. The players will be divided up into two teams dubbed “Stars” and “Stripes.”

Johnson will serve as the pitching coach for the “Stars” team under current University of North Carolina head coach Mike Fox and will coach alongside former Major League Baseball veteran Ernie Young, who will serve as the assistant coach. Fox will be the head coach for the 17U team this summer. Young represented the United States at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and on the 2003 Olympic qualifying team.

Johnson is in the midst of his first season as pitching coach for the Razorbacks under head coach Dave Van Horn. Since arriving from Mississippi State, the Arkansas native has transformed the pitching staff into one of the best in the Southeastern Conference.

Currently, Arkansas leads all SEC teams with 452 batters struck out and has a combined 3.95 team ERA. The strikeouts match the total from last season with still nine regular-season games remaining and it’s the second-highest total in the last four seasons.

Under the tutelage of Johnson, starting pitchers Blaine Knight and Trevor Stephan have become two of the SEC’s elite pitchers. With a 3.48 ERA and six wins in 11 appearances, Knight was named to the Golden Spikes Award Watch List last month. Stephan has nearly matched him in numbers as Arkansas’ Saturday starter with a 3.54 ERA and a team-leading 71 strikeouts. He is currently third in the SEC with 11.41 strikeouts per nine innings.

Originally from Sherwood, Arkansas, Johnson is a 19-year coaching veteran with time spent at the Arkansas high school level, Southern Arkansas, Central Arkansas, Dallas Baptist, and Mississippi State. Johnson’s track record for development is apparent in the fact that he has had 30 pitchers drafted or sign professional contracts in the last nine years.

The USA Baseball National Team Development Program offers athletes an opportunity to connect with USA Baseball staff to better prepare for future national team experience. The program includes skill development sessions, off-field education seminars, intrasquad Stars vs. Stripes games and exposure to professional scouts, college recruiters and the 18U National Team staff and task force.

The 2017 17U NTDP will take place July 22–28 in Chicago and will feature intrasquad scrimmages at Northwestern University and Wrigley Field.

For more information on Razorback Baseball, follow @RazorbackBSB on Twitter.