HIGH SCHOOL

Park Tudor, IU's Micah Johnson moving quickly through White Sox organization

Mark Ambrogi
mark.ambrogi@indystar.com
Indianapolis native and former IU baseball player, Micah Johnson (3), high-fives his Charlotte teammates following in the Charlotte Knights vs. Indianapolis Indians baseball game at Victory Field in Indianapolis on Monday, July 21, 2014. The Knights won the game 8-3.

To take the next step in his career, Micah Johnson had to assess his own strengths.

The top Chicago White Sox prospect from Indianapolis did that last year during his first full season of minor league baseball.

"My freshman year in college I had double-digit home runs (with 11)," the former Park Tudor High School and Indiana University standout said. "I thought maybe I was a power hitter and didn't run as much. I matured last year and understood my game is getting on base and running when I can. The sooner I realized that, the better I got. That's when my approach to the game really took off. I didn't change my skill set. I wasn't better last year than I was the year before. I just understood what I needed to do."

The second baseman stole 84 bases (in 110 attempts) and hit .312 at three levels of minor league baseball last season, finishing up with five games of Double-A Birmingham.

Johnson, who throws right but bats left, started this season with Birmingham and was leading the Southern League with a .329 average when he was promoted to Charlotte on May 13. Entering Tuesday's game at Indianapolis, Johnson, who was 3-for-6 against the Indians on Monday night, was batting .296 for the Knights. Johnson played in the All-Star Futures game in Minneapolis last week.

While some baseball observers have viewed Johnson's ascent as rapid since he was a ninth-round pick in the 2012 amateur draft, Johnson disagrees.

"I always have high expectations," Johnson said. "I didn't plan on staying in Double-A all year. I was going to play my way out of that. Now that I'm here (I'll) try to play my way out of here."

Johnson isn't saying he belongs in the majors now. He just feels it's a reasonable goal to be called up by the end of the season.

"I'm going to work and play that way to get there," Johnson said.

Johnson said he is seeking more consistency at the plate against better Triple-A pitching.

"Every day you see someone different and the bullpens are a lot better," Johnson said. "Hitting .290 is OK but I'm better than that I think," he said. "Once I find that consistency, I'll get that (average) up there."

Former Park Tudor and IU standout Micah Johnson is just one level shy of the big leagues.

While Johnson's path to Triple-A has been quick, it hasn't always been easy. He had to overcome some adversity with two right elbow surgeries. One was before his junior season at IU, causing him to miss much of the season, which affected his draft status. He had another surgery in October, but his recovery time wasn't as long.

"Hopefully I don't stop working hard and it pays off," Johnson said. "I'm sure some people are surprised but not everyone can see how hard you work in the off-season.

To me, it's not a surprise."

Charlotte manager Joel Skinner, a former major league catcher, said Johnson was slowed by a nagging hamstring injury shortly after he arrived in Charlotte. But he has been as good as advertised since then.

"He's doing everything from the standpoint of getting on base and created havoc with his speed," Skinner said. "He's swinging the bat. He's getting an opportunity here at the Triple-A level for the first time. It's all a positive.

"Every time you advance a level there is going to be some adjustments made. He comes to play every day and he's a joy to be around."

Prior to Tuesday, Johnson had stolen nine bases in 13 attempts for Charlotte. He had 18 stolen bases in 29 attempts at Birmingham.

"Last year was the year I had to make a name for myself," Johnson said. "This year I'm just focusing on when (it is) the right time to go. I'm not going to be able to do what I did last year in the big leagues. I'm not going to run every single pitch. That's not possible."

Johnson has focused on studying the moves of pitchers he faced, many who have already pitched in the majors.

"I want to learn from my mistakes," he said. "My (stolen base) number totals aren't important to me right now. It's just the approach and how I'm getting to those numbers."

That thoughtful approach to improvement has impressed many in the White Sox organization. Charlotte first baseman Dan Black, a former Carmel High School and Purdue player, has watched the younger Johnson develop and is impressed with his work ethic.

"He makes some really spectacular plays," Black said. "I think he can really be an impact player."

Johnson on Twitter

Micah Johnson isn't afraid to share his opinion on Twitter, especially on subjects he's passionate about like his hometown Pacers.

Johnson was upset when the Pacers lost Lance Stephenson in free agency to Charlotte Hornets.

"I like what Lance brought, he brought energy," he said. "I know how it works in a clubhouse, it helps to have energy guys like that. Lance is one of those guys. He brings intensity."

On July 16, Johnson tweeted:

"Lance was the only player that played hard ... We go get CJ Miles, like what? He doesn't even see the floor in nba 2K."

U.S. national team soccer coach Jurgen Klinsman came under Johnson's Twitter fire, too, on June 11.

"So Klinsman doesn't think US could win world cup and cut (Landon) donovan ... explain to me why he's the coach."

Here's a sampling of some other @micah_johnson3 tweets:

Monday: "In Indy for first time in a summer since '09 ... it would be an atrocity if I didn't get to broad ripple at least once."

July 15: "Rattled off eight straight wins in fifa since all star break. Needed the rest to get my creativity back and thumbs right."

May 30: "Hamstring felt great doing a 25 minute interval on the elliptical. But 25 minutes on there almost had me seeing my great grandma in heaven."

April 29: "If Pacers Vikings IU don't win anything by the time I have a son ima raise him a Bulls Bears Purdue fan."

March 7: "Pacers will not make it past the heat. Paul George, the team's superstar is soft and clearly in awe of LeBron"

Call Star reporter Mark Ambrogi at (317) 444-6047. Follow him on Twitter: @mark_ambrogi