Olin Johnson鈥檚 UNC baseball commitment is full-circle moment
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (BVM) 鈥�Olin Johnson grew up in the state of Washington, but the University of North Carolina was always a theme for him growing up. His mother grew up a huge Tar Heel fan in the area. His late grandfather wouldn鈥檛 miss a UNC basketball game. Now Johnson himself will have an opportunity to represent the school on the baseball field.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really surreal,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淲hen I get on campus, it鈥檒l start to feel real. I鈥檓 just hoping that I can make them proud. It means a lot to me to be able to go there. It means a lot to my family.鈥�
Johnson has established himself as a top pitcher at the high school level over the past couple of years at McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he transferred as a junior.
He can already hit the mid-90s with his fastball and has a nasty slider, one of the best in the country at the prep level. Johnson has pitched so well that he is ranked as the No. 201 prospect for the upcoming MLB draft by .
RHP Olin Johnson, the product of Bellingham, Washington, is getting some late spring helium. He鈥檚 added velocity and has been up to 96 the last few weeks. Kid has a banger breaking ball too. Johnson is a North Carolina commit.
— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB)
But Johnson was already a solid player before he moved to the Volunteer State, in fact, he committed to Washington State as a freshman. He decommitted in the summer leading up to his senior year, and within a week鈥檚 span, he pledged to the Tar Heels.
鈥淣orth Carolina came through and I knew that鈥檚 where I really wanted to go,鈥� Johnson said.
There were plenty of scouts and college coaches at McCallie games this past year as its pitching staff included Johnson, Florida commit Grayson Smith and Ole Miss commit Hudson Calhoun.
RHP Olin Johnson (McCallie (TN), 2023) has pitched two scoreless in an intra city battle vs Baylor. FB: 89-92 T93 with AA carry life, CB: 70-75 with 12/6 shape that flashes AA at 74-75. Shows a CH at 82 with slicing action and average potential with development. UNC commit.
— Will Hoefer (@whoeferbaseball)
Johnson shined for the Blue Tornado as a senior and now has an opportunity with the 2023 MLB Draft if that is something he wants to pursue, but he will wait to focus on it until the time comes.
鈥淚 like to just keep doing what I鈥檓 doing,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 read too much into it or overhype it. I don鈥檛 like to make things bigger than they are. I think about it definitely, but I just think about it as another possibility.鈥�
Olin Johnson (2023 Bellingham, WA.) commit bringing some 馃敟 this morning with his long easy delivery and good extension through release. Touching 88mph with some late turn over action at times. Tall lean frame with room for added strength.
— Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting)
Johnson will know his fate a couple of weeks from now, but if he does wind up in Chapel Hill, he would love to help the team out right away.
鈥淚 want to be able to go into UNC and make an impact as a freshman,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the goal. To go help the team win.”
