Ex-’Bow Johnson
ends up with Marlins

In rounding out the Alou trade,
he should get an opportunity with
pitching-hungry Florida

By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

Rumors that surfaced on the internet shortly after the Florida Marlins traded outfielder Moises Alou to the Houston Astros Nov. 11 became a reality for former University of Hawaii pitcher Mark Johnson yesterday.

Johnson became the player to be named in the trade that also saw the Marlins obtain right-handers Oscar Henriquez and Manuel Barrios.

"It's a win-win situation for me," Johnson said. "It's all about opportunity. I had a good opportunity with Houston. I feel I'll get a good opportunity with any team and the Marlins have a good minor league system."

Johnson, a 6-foot-4 right-hander, was a first-round pick by the Astros in the 1996 amateur free agent draft following his junior season with the Rainbows.

Prior to the draft, Baseball America rated him as the 12th-best pitching prospect and the 19th-best overall prospect.

He was a member of the U.S. Olympic baseball team until the final cut -- just prior to the Atlanta Games -- and did not start his professional career until this past summer.

After an 0-3 start, he finished with an 8-9 record for Kissimmee, Fla., in the Class A Florida State League.

Johnson worked 1551/3 innings, allowed 150 hits, 39 walks, struck out 127 and had an earned run average of 3.07 in 26 starts.

The trade does not faze him as he knows it is part of the game.

"It's still my goal to be a major league player, so I'm going to have to work my way up with any team," the native of Springsboro, Ohio, said.

The Marlins indicated they would assign Johnson to Portland, Maine, in the Class AA Eastern League.

"I know it's cold up there," Johnson, 22, said.

The closest Johnson has come to playing in Maine was in 1991 in the Cape Cod League, a summer circuit.

"It's a great opportunity for him," UH pitching coach Carl Furutani said. "There is a big want with the Marlins. They got rid of a lot of pitchers and lost a couple in the draft."

SPENSER UPDATE: Johnson was with the Astros' instructional league program this past fall and watched pitcher Kaipo Spenser (St. Anthony, Arizona State) make his debut after recovering from two arm surgeries last spring.

"He pitched two innings against us and looked sharp," Johnson said.

Spenser was drafted in the 16th round by the Cleveland Indians in 1996 and is expected to make his pro debut in 1998.