Red Sox sign first-round pick Brian Johnson and third-round pick Austin Maddox
The Boston Red Sox today announced that they have signed left-handed pitcher Brian Johnson, the club’s second selection in the first round (31st overall) of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, and right-handed pitcher Austin Maddox, taken by Boston in the third round. Both pitchers most recently played for the University of Florida.
Red Sox Director of Amateur Scouting Amiel Sawdaye made the announcements.
A junior this year, Johnson went 8-5 with a 3.90 ERA (39 ER/90.0 IP) and 73 strikeouts compared to 18 walks in 17 starts for the Gators, helping his team to a College World Series berth. He also batted .307 (62-for-202) with 13 doubles, six home runs and 41 RBI as a first baseman and designated hitter this season and is one of three finalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award that will be presented this weekend. Johnson was also chosen as a first-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, was named a second-Team Louisville Slugger All-American and earned his second straight First-Team All-SEC selection. The left-hander finishes his career at Florida with a 22-12 record, 3.85 ERA (104 ER/243.1 IP) and 196 strikeouts in 49 appearances (46 starts) over three seasons, and also tallied a .324 average (155-for-478) with 29 doubles, three triples, 15 homers and 91 RBI. In 2010, he was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman Team as both a starting pitcher and designated hitter, and was chosen as a Freshman All-American by Baseball America. Johnson has played for the USA Collegiate National Team each of the last two summers and also played with Yarmouth-Dennis of the Cape Cod League in 2011. He was named Florida Today Player of the Year and Brevard County Player of the Year as a junior in 2008 at Cocoa Beach (FL) High School. Johnson was selected in the 27th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft by the Dodgers but elected not to sign.
Serving as the Gators primary closer, Maddox went 3-3 with 12 saves, a 2.44 ERA (15 ER/55.1 IP), 57 strikeouts and 11 walks in 32 appearances with Florida as a junior during the 2012 season. The right-hander’s 12 saves were one shy of the school’s single-season record and he was named a third-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Also seeing action at first base and designated hitter this year, he batted .265 (18-for-68) with five runs, five RBI and five walks. Maddox made 21 appearances as a sophomore, his 1st college season as a pitcher, and compiled a 3-0 record with 5 saves, a 0.67 ERA (2 ER/27.0 IP), 21 strikeouts and 3 walks. A native of Jacksonville, FL, he was chosen to the SEC Academic Honor Roll that year and selected as both the SEC’s Freshman of the Year and a third-team All-American by the NCBWA in 2010 when he had starts at third base, designated hitter, first base and catcher, and hit .333 (88-for-264) with 72 RBI and 17 homers. Maddox was named the Florida Times-Union's All-First Coast Baseball Player of the Year as a senior at Eagle’s View Academy in 2009 and helped the team to a pair of state championships during his high school tenure. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 37th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft but did not sign.
Boston has now signed 21 players selected in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, including all 12 of their picks over rounds one through 10. Please see attached release for a complete look at the Red Sox 2012 draft selections.