Canadian Left-Handed Two-Way Player with Professional and Overseas Experience in Germany and Czech (Euro working visa through 2023-24) | Baseball Jobs Overseas

by | Aug 22, 2021

Canadian Left-Handed Two-Way Player with Professional and Overseas Experience in Germany and Czech (Euro working visa through 2023-24)

Name: Ryan Johnson

Height: 193cm

Weight: 104kg

DOB: September 29, 1992

Date Available: March 15, 2021

High-Level Indy Pro experience

Bats: L

Throws: L

Positions: SP, RF

Positions (alt): 1B, CF, LF

College: Lubbock Christian University

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Personal

Ryan offers a team quite a lot of versatility, as he can both pitch and play in the field (first base and the outfield).  He was a two-way player his first couple of seasons in college, and he has both pitched and played the field during his two seasons in the European leagues.

On the mound, he offers a good mix of pitches, with a fast ball averaging in the low 90s (mph), a big curveball and a changeup that can be thrown in hitters’ counts and to both sides of the plate.  

From the hitting side, he has good pop, good plate discipline and a solid approach with two strikes.  He consistently posts high on-base percentages.

Ryan is a very supportive teammate.  He says, “Baseball is a complicated sport, and it takes a village to be an elite baseball player.  I try my best to support every teammate, whether it’s a guy struggling, or someone who is on a hot streak.”

He continues to work out and train in the off-season to stay in top condition and keep his baseball skills at high levels.  He weight trains, and he also throws regular bullpen sessions and live at-bat sessions.  

Wayne Ough. Manager of the Solingen Alligators in the German Bundesliga, says, “I have no problem recommending RJ to any club! He would be one of the best two-way guys in Europe this season.”

Nathan Blackwood, his coach at Lubbock Christian University, adds, “Ryan’s work ethic, combined with his ability and character, are what makes him so good. His fastball usually sits around 90-91 (mph), but he touches 94, and he has an outstanding slider and change-up.”

He also has coaching experience to lend to a club.  He has been a youth coach, as well as pitching coach in the British Columbia (Canada) Premier Baseball League.

Career Highlights

Experience at several levels, including junior college, collegiate summer league, NCAA Division II, U.S. independent professional and European leagues

  • Played on the Canadian Junior National Team
  • All-region selection in junior college, #1 pitcher in the team’s rotation
  • In men’s league, holds franchise records for games played, inning pitched, wins, strikeouts, and strikeouts/game
  • At NCAA Division II school, was #1 pitcher in the rotation, voted Pitcher of the Year, All-American, All-regional 
    • Holds school record for most consecutive wins by a pitcher (13)
    • 19-7 win/loss record with 2.87 earned-run average over two seasons
  • Home run derby champion at Prague Baseball Week
  • Two seasons playing in European leagues
    • 393 batting average
    • .508 on-base percentage
    • Twenty of 53 hits (38 percent) for extra bases 
    • 151 strikeouts as a pitcher in 98 innings over two seasons
    • 1.94 earned-run average in 2021

 

Overseas Goals

Ryan wants to extend his playing career with an overseas opportunity, while experiencing new environments and helping grow the game globally.  In addition, he would like to use an overseas experience as a steppingstone to a professional league in the U.S.

 

Articles/Recognitions:

 

Playing Experience

YEARSORGANIZATIONLEAGUE/DIVISIONDETAILS
2010-11 Crowder College NJCAA DI Starting 1B (Top 5 JuCo )
2012-13 College of Southern Idaho NJCAA DI #1 Starting PItcher in Rotation - All-Region Honors
2013-18 Weyburn Beavers Western Canadian Baseball League Starting Pitcher. Franchise Records- Games Played: 41, Innings Pitched: 237.2, Wins: 23, Strikeouts: 253, SO/G: 9.58
2018-19 Lubbock Christian University NCAA DII #1 Starting PItcher in Rotation - Pitcher of the Year, All-American, All-Regional (Current Record Holder of Most Consecutive Wins: 13)
2019 Winnipeg Goldeyes American Association Starting Pitcher
2020 Solingen Alligators German Bundesliga
2020-21 International Stars Prague Baseball Week 2020 Prague Baseball Week - HR Derby Champ
2021 Trebic Nuclears Czech Extraliga
2021 Borgerhout Squirrels Belgian Baseball League
2022 Trebic Nuclears Czech extraliga 2022 Prague baseball week gold medal 2022 Allstar game 1st baseman and pitcher

Coaching Experience

YEARROLEORGANIZATIONLEAGUE/DIVISIONDETAILS
2018-21 Coach Homerun Sports Training Facility Youth Pitching Coordinator and Hitting Instructor
2019-21 Coach White Rock Tritons BC Premier Baseball League Pitching Coach
2019-21 Coach North Delta Blue Jays BC Premier Baseball League Pitching Coach
2021-2022 Coach Trebic Nuclears Czech 15U league Head Coach

Stats

Pro/Overseas Batting

Years Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG
2020 Solingen Alligators 13 31 9 12 2 3 13 4 5 0 0 .387 .457 .742
2021 Trebic 23 66 16 22 5 1 4 16 19 11 1 0 .333 .482 .621
2021 (Playdowns) Trebic 10 38 18 19 5 1 6 22 9 3 4 0 .500 .583 1.158
2021 Borgerhout 10 33 9 13 8 1 0 9 6 1 0 0 .394 .476 .697
2022 Trebic 18 57 6 16 7 0 2 16 8 13 0 0 .281 .343 .509
2022 (Playoffs) Trebic 16 51 4 13 4 0 1 6 9 7 1 0 .310 .431 .476

Pro/Overseas Pitching

Year Team ERA GS CG IP H SO BB HBP R ER Wins Losses SV WHIP
2019 Winnipeg 5.00 9 0 45 48 19 31 0 25 25 1 4 0 1.76
2020 Solingen Alligators 5.79 5 1 18.2 21 29 19 1 19 12 0 3 0 1.93
2021 Trebic 1.78 9 1 60.2 45 79 26 5 19 12 3 5 1 1.17
2021 (Playdowns) Trebic 2.25 4 1 28 16 53 13 1 8 7 3 0 0 1.04
2021 Borgerhout 1.03 5 1 35 13 55 12 1 8 4 3 1 0 0.71
2022 Trebic 2.74 8 0 42.7 29 48 15 6 17 13 4 2 1 1.03
2022 (Playoffs) Trebic (Playoffs) 1.36 10 1 39.7 30 48 12 0 6 6 3 2 2 1.05

College/Amateur Pitching

Year Team ERA GS CG IP H SO BB HBP R ER Wins Losses SV WHIP
2013-2018 Weyburn 3.51 41 3 246.2 224 259 118 21 124 96 24 8 0 1.38
2018 Lubbock Christian 3.30 13 - 79 58 59 34 7 37 29 6 5 0 1.17
2019 Lubbock Christian 2.54 16 - 106.1 83 117 39 7 36 30 13 2 0 1.15

Video Highlights

Testimonials

Phil Curtis

Calgary Bucks, Organization Head

Nathan Blackwood

Lubbock Christian University, Head Coach

Ryan is one of the best LHP’s we’ve ever had come through this program. His work ethic combined with his ability and character are what makes him so good. His fastball usually sits around 90-91, but he touches 94 and certainly has an outstanding slider and changeup to go with his velocity. He won 13 games in a row for us in one of the toughest NCAA D2 conferences in the nation and achieved All-American honors as well as the conference pitcher of the year. He knows how to work hard, and always did, yet his ability to have fun and be an outstanding teammate are among the things that I admired the most about him. He was always a fun guy to be around and yet was very respectful not only to me but to all of his coaches and his teammates. I can see Ryan being successful at whatever challenge is put in front of him, just because of who he is.

Wayne Ough

Solingen Alligators, Manager

I have no problem recommending RJ to any club! He would be in my mind one of the best two-way guys in Europe this season.

It was a bit of a rush job getting him over here last year so I would have loved to give him more time preparing for his starts so I felt a bit bad just throwing him in the fire straight off the plane.

But he was a champ, never complained, and always did what was best for the team.
Then he told me he hits a little and so we took a look at him the next practice and man he blew my mind.

Some of the easiest pop I’ve seen from a left-hand hitter. Plate discipline was so impressive considering he hadn’t hit in a game for 1 year and a half.

Hit around .400 and was equal leader with 3 hr ( only hit in 10 games )
The dude is an athlete

We had him 88-92mph on the gun tops 93-94 mph I believe.
Good change and plus breaking pitch.
Has the potential to be a top starter in any league and with his bat I can see RJ hanging around Europe with top teams for a while if he chooses to.

Off the field he was never a problem, always asking to help out in the club. Can also coach a youth team. Just your typical all-round super nice, highly competitive, and denim-wearing Canadian. 😀😀

But honestly, I told him before he left he is crazy if he doesn’t come back to Europe. We just can’t afford another import this year due to corona but he would be one of the first guys I would contact if we change our situation

I think a team like Draci or maybe Ostrava ( ball flys out ) would suit him. He would love the setup at Draci for sure.

Additional Info

Playing Preferences: Europe Semi-pro (ie. Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, France etc.), Europe Pro (Italy, The Netherlands), Australia Semi-pro (State Leagues), Australia Pro (Australian Baseball League), Asia Pro (Japan, Korea, Taiwan), Latin America pro (Guatemala, Colombia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, DR, etc)

 

Living preferences: Private living arrangement (apartment to self), Shared living arrangement, own bedroom, Shared living arrangement, shared bedroom

 

Return home: I can stay as long as it takes to complete a season

 

Prior engagements: 

 

Recent injuries/illnesses: no

 

Traveling with a companion: No

 

Educational background: 5 years of education with Biology/education background.