The former University of Hawaii pitcher will be watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in his family's living room in Springboro, Ohio, instead of marching into the Olympic Stadium in Atlanta.
Johnson was one of five alternates named when USA baseball announced its final 20-man roster on July 3. The first-round draft pick by the Houston Astros was asked to stay with the team during its final two weeks of preparation in Tennessee, pitching in the squad's final game last Sunday against Italy.
"The last few weeks were difficult, knowing I wouldn't be going to Atlanta," Johnson said in a phone call from Ohio yesterday. "I stayed to help out and take as much information with me as I could to put into my head. I learned more in just two weeks than I have in the past two years.
"I fell short a little bit but I still consider myself part of the team. I didn't get cut. I'll always be an alternate on the 1996 Olympic baseball team."
Johnson was 0-1 in seven relief appearances, pitching 11 innings, with an ERA of 5.22. He gave up 10 runs, nine of them earned, and struck out eight.
Last Sunday's outing wasn't one of his best. Johnson gave up four runs in one-third of an inning as the U.S. held on for a 14-6 victory.
"I was satisfied with the way I pitched, but they hit me," said Johnson, who was 6-5 with the Rainbows last season and second in the WAC in strikeouts.
Johnson said he has not been contacted by the Astros since returning home. Club officials said they would wait until after the right-hander was done with his Olympic commitment before beginning salary discussions.
Johnson was the 19th player selected overall in the draft. He became only the third Hawaii player picked in the first round.
"If something had come up, another player injured, Mark would have been one of the first guys we would have gone to," said Ken Lee of USA Baseball. "It was very, very difficult dropping anyone from the team. It was a good, close group.
"Mark had a great attitude. He could easily have gone home, but he told us he had made the commitment to us and wanted to stay."
"It was a good experience for him and a good way for him to keep working out," said Johnson's father, Tom, who stayed with his son in Tennessee during the final two weeks.
"Mark gave it his best shot," said his mother, Elsie. "We're disappointed for him but, as he told me, 'Mom, it will look good on a resume.' ''
Age: 21
Hometown: Springboro, Ohio
College: University of Hawaii. Drafted in the first round by the Houston Astros, and will not return for his senior season.