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In this Tweet by Reno (Nev.) Gazette-Journal reporter Chris Murray in April, it was reported that new Arizona baseball coach Jay Johnson played a pivotal role in Kris Bryant’s recruitment and development out of Las Vegas to the University of San Diego.
An excerpt from Murray’s story:
Wolf Pack baseball coach Jay Johnson recruited Bryant his freshman year of high school. Johnson was an assistant at San Diego at the time and the ultra-talented Bryant appeared destined for pro ball. But Johnson was able to persuade Bryant to attend college first, a decision that delayed his pro-ball debut by three seasons, but paid big dividends.
“College in San Diego was a great experience for me, and I definitely recommend going to college if you’re a high school kid, especially if you’re playing for a coach like Jay Johnson,” Bryant said. “You learn to do your own laundry and make your own meals. You learn to live on your own. Plus, it speeds up the whole process of minor-league baseball. A year ago, I was drafted and I’m already in Triple-A.”
Bryant, the No. 2 pick of the 2013 draft got a $6.7 million signing bonus, hit .353 in college and blasted 54 home runs in 172 games for the Toreros. He credits much of his success to the lessons he learned there, where Johnson was his hitting coach.
Kris Bryant headed to MLB. My column on him from his stop in Reno last year (strong link to Nevada's Jay Johnson): http://t.co/cMSAVoh6ZA
— Chris Murray (@MurrayRGJ) April 17, 2015
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