UH's Mark Johnson on his way to a thirteen strikeout performance against San Diego State earlier this year.
Photo by Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin

Johnson, who was the 19th pick overall, said this morning from the USA's National Training Center in Millington, Tenn., that he had not spoken with anyone from the organization, but that he expected to be with the Astros' high Class A team.

''They spoke with my brother in Ohio and he called me,'' Johnson said. ''I'll have an advisor help me with the actual signing, but I really don't expect any problems.

''They've been known for their pitching over the years. I'm really happy to be joining their organization. To tell you the truth, it's a great feeling to be chosen in the first round.''

Clemson right-hander Kris Benson was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates as the top pick.

Benson, 21, is 14-1 this season for Clemson with a 1.57 ERA, 193 strikeouts and just 26 walks in 149 innings.

Benson, who is 6-foot-4, has a live fastball and outstanding control, making him one of the most highly rated college pitchers ever. He struck out 15 in 71/3 innings last Friday during a 7-3 loss to Miami at the College World Series.

"He is a talented, well-rounded pitching prospect," said Paul Tinnell, the Pirates' director of scouting.

Pittsburgh had the No. 1 pick for the first time since 1986, when the Pirates drafted third baseman Jeff King.

Minnesota, picking second, chose San Diego State first baseman Travis Lee, and St. Louis followed by taking Wichita State right-hander Braden Looper. Toronto used the fourth pick on Clemson right-hander Billy Koch and Montreal went for the first high school player, John Patterson, a right-hander at West Orange-Stark High in West Orange, Texas.

Seventeen pitchers were taken on the first round but just three left-handers. Just 11 of the 30 picks were from colleges.

Hawaii's Johnson will likely report to the Astros' Class A affiliate in either Kissimmee (Fla.) of the Florida State League or Quad City (Iowa) in the Midwest League once his Olympic run is done.

Just how big his signing bonus will be depends on what the player in front of him makes. Last year, players picked in this part of the draft were given a $1 million signing bonus.

''As long as I'm on the Olympic team, I can't accept any money,'' Johnson said. ''I can sign, but they have to hold whatever they give me until my affiliation with the Olympics is completed.''

The Springboro, Ohio, resident is only the third Hawaii player to be selected in the first round of the draft. Fellow pitchers Derek Tatsuno and Mike Campbell were the other two.

Tatsuno was the first player chosen in the January phase of the draft by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1982. He was first picked by the San Diego Padres in 1979, but opted to play in Japan. Campbell was chosen by the Seattle Mariners in 1985.

Johnson won't know until June 16 whether he survived the first major cutdown of the U.S. Olympic team. He is one of the 49 players currently on the roster.

''They'll cut it down to 25 on June 16 and then to 20 with five alternates on July 5,'' Johnson said. ''I'm pitching OK right now. I'm working a lot of drills trying to smooth out my mechanics a little bit.

''It has been a lot of fun and a great learning experience for me. Now that the draft is done for me, I can concentrate on making the Olympic team. It's still a big goal of mine.''

This season Johnson finished 6-5 for the Rainbows with an ERA of 4.60. He was second in the Western Athletic Conference in strikeouts with 132 in 119.3 innings. He yielded 75 runs in 17 appearances, but only 61 were earned.

Last summer, Johnson pitched for Team USA and posted a 5-0 record with two saves (both against Cuba) and a 2.34 ERA. The magazine Baseball America tabbed him as the No. 2 control pitcher available in the draft, behind Benson, and No. 3 breaking ball pitcher, behind Benson and Seth Greisinger of Virginia, who was taken No. 6 today by the Detroit Tigers.

Tampa Bay, making the first selection in club history, used the 29th pick on Paul Wilder, an outfielder from Carey High School in North Carolina, who wasn't even projected to go in the first three rounds. Arizona, also making its first pick ever, completed the first round by drafting left-hander Nick Bierbrodt from Millikan High School in Long Beach, Calif.

The Devil Rays and Diamondbacks don't start play until the 1998 season.

Only the first round is released immediately. The draft concludes Thursday and the remaining players selected will be released in about 10 days. The delay gives teams a chance to sign players before college coaches use the draft as a recruiting list.

Detroit took Greisinger, a right-hander. San Francisco went for Matt White, a right-hander at Waynesboro High School in Pennsylvania.

Milwaukee used the eighth pick on Kentucky outfielder Chad Green and Florida went for Cal State-Fullerton outfielder Mark Kotsay.

Oakland then used the 10th pick on Eric Chavez, an infielder from Mount Carmel High School in San Diego. Philadelphia took Adam Eaton, a right-hander from Snohomish High School in Washington. The Chicago White Sox used the 12th pick on left-hander Bobby Seay from Sarasota High School in Florida.

The New York Mets used the 13th pick on Robert Stratton, an outfielder from San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, Calif., and the Kansas City Royals took Dermal Brown, an outfielder from Marlboro Central High School in New York. San Diego chose Matt Halloran, a shortstop from Chancellor High School in Fredericsburg, Va.

Toronto, using the pick it got from Baltimore when the Orioles signed free agent Roberto Alomar, took Joe Lawrence, a shortstop from Barbe High School in Lake Charles, La. Then the Chicago Cubs took Todd Noel, a right-hander from North Vermillion High School in Maurice, La.

Texas used the 18th pick on Robert Dickey, a right-hander at the University of Tennessee, and Houston took Johnson.

The New York Yankees, using the pick they got when California signed free agent Randy Velarde, took Eric Milton, a left-hander from the University of Maryland. Colorado selected right-hander Jake Westbrook, a right-hander from Madison County High School in Danielsville, Ga., and Seattle chose Gil Meche, a right-hander at Acadiana High School in Lafayette, La.

Los Angeles picked Damian Rolls, a third baseman from Schlagel High School in Kansas City, Kan. and Texas, using the pick it got from the Yankees for the signing of Kenny Rogers, took Sam Marsonek, a right-hander from Jesuit High School in Tampa, Fla.

Cincinnati used the 25th pick on outfielder John Oliver from Lake-Lehman High School in Lehman, Pa. and Boston took right-hander Josh Garrett from South Spencer High School in Richland, Ind. Atlanta drafted Andrew Zapp, a first baseman from Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Ind. Cleveland took Danny Peoples, an infielder from the University of Texas.

Benson, the top pick, was the last pitcher cut from Team USA during summer tryouts a year ago. He added 15 pounds to his lanky frame and returned to Clemson with a fastball consistently in the 90-mph range and excellent control.

"I haven't really set any timetables for myself. I just want to be up there as fast as I can," he said. "I don't want to be rushed."