Brian Walton
November 6, 2004
Exclusive Birdhouse Interview with Cardinals Minor League Catcher – Third Baseman Gabe Johnson
By Brian Walton
25-year-old Gabe Johnson was drafted some time ago, way back in the third round of the 1998 draft as a high schooler from Delray Beach, Florida. He has grown up as a Cardinal, having just finished his seventh season in the Redbirds’ minor league system.
After a respectable campaign in rookie ball, Johnson had a long, undistinguished stretch at the plate, with three straight seasons not hitting above .200 nor driving in as many as 40 runs. Then, at age 23, Johnson had a breakout season in his third year with Peoria. During that season, 2002, he hit 26 home runs, drove in 93 runs and stroked 32 doubles.
However, Johnson digressed in 2003 upon being promoted to Palm Beach, where he hit just .213 with 40 RBI in 385 at-bats. Yet, in the sparse Cardinal system, he still got a chance to move up to Double-A Tennessee this past season and again put up respectable numbers. In 450 at-bats, Johnson hit a career-best .267 with 18 home runs, 66 RBI and 27 doubles.
With the ability to play both third base and catcher, Johnson has increased his value via versatility, not unlike another career minor leaguer named Cody McKay. With Memphis catcher Mike Mahoney having been granted six-year minor league free agency, Johnson is reaching for a Triple-A spot in 2005.
A showcase assignment in the 2004 Arizona Fall League provides the baseball world another opportunity to gauge Johnson’s future. With the Mesa Solar Sox, Johnson plays most days, either behind the plate or on the hot corner.
While he has the requisite strong arm, Johnson has committed a team-high five errors this fall. Though he has yet to homer, Johnson is producing in the clutch with his bat. Only tied for seventh on the Solar Sox in at-bats, Johnson still leads the team with 12 RBI in 16 games.
You’ve been catching and playing third base. What has the organization told you about your future?
Basically, just to work on both. The more options I give them, the better it is for me. If you’re out there and they can plug you in and give a guy a day off at a different position, and then go ahead and play your days at another spot, then it just helps the team and yourself.
It is more pressure on you having to prepare to play different positions? Obviously, catching requires work with the pitching staff and playing third is no picnic, either.
Catching is a little different in the sense that you’ve got to kind of work with the pitchers every day and be on the same page with them. As far as playing third, you can get your ground balls (in practice) and all that and get your work in there. Catching, you have to put a lot of work in, mentally and physically. So, it is tougher.
You had a really good year with the bat in 2002, slipped the next season, then rebounded in 2004. What happened differently?
I don’t know. You know, when you have confidence out there playing, you can kind of get it to snowball and just ride it out the whole year. That year in Palm Beach, I did alright from the beginning and started slipping and I just couldn’t get it back where I needed it to be. This year in Tennessee, I started off slow but not letting myself get in that same mindset that I got into in Palm Beach, I was able to dig myself out of that hole and have a good year.
I noticed you stole three bases the first couple of weeks here in Arizona. Is that because of the location of your locker? (Dressing next to Johnson was Tampa Bay’s speedster Joey Gathright, who leads the AFL with 15 steals in 15 games.)
Yeah, Gathright’s been giving me some tips. I’m working on getting some good jumps out there. (Both of them laugh.) No, I think it was a couple of 3-1 and 3-2 counts and just so happened to get in there. I’m not going to be a speedster next year.
What are your hopes for where you’re going to be next season?
I am doing everything I can to make that Triple-A club. That’s why I think catching will help me out. Just playing multiple positions. I’d love to be the every-day third baseman there or catcher. It doesn’t matter. I just really want to make that club up there.
I appreciate your time, Gabe.
Thank you!
