Remember when the Timberwolves drafted Wes Johnson fourth overall in 2010, in doing so leaving the likes of DeMarcus Cousins and Paul George on the board?
It was ugly, but the Twins are taking their neighbor’s mistake and using it as an opportunity to redeem people named Wes Johnson around the world by hiring a pitching coach by that name.
That’s right, the Twins are expected to name Wes Johnson their new pitching coach, according to The Athletic.
This Wes Johnson isn’t the same one that the Wolves drafted. This is the baseball Wes Johnson, who spent the past two years as the pitching coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks.
According to his Razorbacks bio, Johnson has coached 30 players that have been signed or drafted by professional teams over the past nine years. His bio also speaks highly of his ability to increase pitchers’ velocity.
“Known nationally for his player development and ability to increase velocity throughout his staff, Johnson arrives in Fayetteville after serving as the pitching coach last season with Mississippi State. Before that, he spent four years at Dallas Baptist University, helping build the Patriots into a perennial national baseball power.”
Johnson’s Razorbacks lost to Oregon State in the College World Series last season.
With the Twins, he’ll replace pitching coach Garvin Alston, who was not retained by new manager Rocco Baldelli.
The Twins, of course, drafted Oregon State outfielder Trevor Larnach with their first-round pick in the June MLB Draft.
