Bjorn Johnson, Reeve Boyd formed friendship through baseball
SEATTLE (BVM) 鈥� Matthew Stafford and Clayton Kershaw鈥檚 friendship is one that鈥檚 been highlighted across the sports landscape. They grew up together and played the same sports, and are now thriving in their respective sports. Now two of Washington鈥檚 top prep baseball players, Bjorn Johnson and Reeve Boyd, are doing the same by continuing to rely on their friendship as they eye to further their baseball careers.
Both boys grew up together playing Queen Anne Little League, and from their first steps onto a baseball field, Johnson and Boyd鈥檚 bond formed immediately.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great connection from the start,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淲e live two minutes from each other, so it鈥檚 nice.鈥�
鈥淚 first saw him during little leauge,鈥� Boyd said. 鈥淭hen we started playing in Seattle when we were 7, and we鈥檝e been doing that for the last 11 years.鈥澛�
Along with growing up and teaming up with each other, both players grew up playing the same positions: shortstop and pitcher. It provided the necessary bonding experiences for them, and it鈥檚 something that remains special to both. However, Johnson has since moved to the mound, where he鈥檚 become an exceptional talent.听
鈥�23 Bjorn Johnson (WA) slinging 90-91 early this morning & killing spin on 81-82 CH (1775). Wrinkle slider.
Wiry-athletic frame. Slight open stride down the mound. Frame projects. recruit || @PBR_Washington
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt)
鈥淲e would alternate at shortstop during the little league days,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚 used to play some short too, but I just got into pitching because I have a knack for finding the strike zone and just throw it where I want to. I loved being able to command the game, take control and as I鈥檝e gotten stronger, the velocity has come with it, and I love pitching.鈥�
Johnson is the best pitcher in the Evergreen State and has a fastball that reaches 91 mph. He also has a slider and a changeup that hammer the strike zone. Johnson helped the Lincoln Lynx finish with .听
Boyd was an all-metro selection as a junior, and he batted .357 with an OPS of 1.010. Boyd also played quarterback for the Seattle Prep Panthers; however, it was his performances on the diamond that garnered attention from D-I programs.听
2022 MVP Award presented by , Reeve Boyd () of Seattle Prep HS .
— NWScoutGames (@NWScoutGames)
Johnson is now committed to Auburn and Boyd is committed to Oregon State, although Johnson was initially committed to Washington. When Johnson opened up his commitment again both talked about teaming up, but he decided to head south.听
鈥淲e鈥檝e always talked about teaming up,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淥regon State was a top choice, but I went down to Auburn, and the atmosphere was different from anything I鈥檝e seen. And the level of play in the SEC just blew me away.鈥�
With a place to play in college and an athletic future on the horizon, the players still find ways to stay motivated too.听
鈥淚 love to win, and I鈥檝e always loved the game,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淭hose came together for me and meshed. It shaped me into the pitcher I am. I want to play this game as long as I can, and I hope to win a World Series someday or be an All-Star.鈥澛�
Now, both players will be gearing up for the final season and will continue to have high expectations of themselves to stay motivated to play the sport they love so much.听
鈥淏aseball is everything to me,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚 know you don鈥檛 want to base your personality on one thing, but it鈥檚 what I look forward to every day, and I want to play for a long time.鈥�
鈥淚t would mean a lot to me, and my day-to-day life is around baseball,鈥� Boyd said. 鈥淚t means everything to me that I get to play at the next level and can compete for a national championship and hopefully someday get drafted. The sport is also the biggest thing is the relationships I鈥檝e been able to build with people, and my best friends are baseball players. So it鈥檚 given me a path in life.鈥�
