The passion to play baseball at the highest level is something that countless children dream about from a young age, and Temecula’s Gavin Johns is no exception. The recent Tennessee Tech graduate has been playing the game since he could swing a bat and he has played the game well. From his days in youth baseball in Temecula, to playing high school baseball locally, to National championships in Junior college, playing for UCLA and then Tennessee Tech, Johns has been on a mission to play professional baseball for as long as he can remember.
The notion of playing professionally is not too farfetched for Johns, who recently added Tennessee Tech Athletics Man of the Year to his resume, built a personal scouting website and had high hopes for this year’s Major League Baseball first-year player draft.
“I was talking with a friend recently about my career and we talked about how it would be cool to document all my content as far as pictures and videos and statistics and personal stories online for everyone to access,” Johns said. “We thought it would be great for whatever plans God leads me to in my athletic journey but also connecting with the community and with different business ideas. The website tells the story of who I am as a person in addition to the baseball player and athlete I am.”
With the 2021 MLB amateur player draft taking place last week, Johns felt good about recent workouts he has had and was communicating with scouts from multiple teams. Though he has been told he hits well and has the versatility to play multiple positions, John’s was not picked up in this year’s shortened draft, which is usually 40 rounds, but was only 20 rounds this year due to the ongoing pandemic (only five rounds in 2020).
“My leadership traits will also be a great asset to any organization,” Johns said. “God willing, I intend to play baseball a lot longer, and one day I believe it will be my career. It will take faith, hard work, and perseverance…just as it took in many other steps along the way so far.”
When it comes to being named the Tennessee Tech Athletics Man of the Year he feels blessed and honored and stated that he wants to thank his family, friends, coaches, mentors, trainers, and everyone in his life for molding him into the man he is today.
“Tennessee Tech University has changed my life for the better and has set me up for what is to come in my life,” the MLB hopeful who gives all glory to God said. “I am profoundly grateful for the relationships I have been a part of during my time at the school and want to thank everyone for having a big part in that process. I never thought I would end up playing college baseball in Tennessee, but I am more than glad this is where God wanted me to be.”
To keep up with Gavin Johns and follow all the action as he chases his dreams of playing professional baseball, visit www.gavinjohns.com.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
