Cubs hire Johnson as minors pitching coordinator
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
CHICAGO (AP) -- The Cubs have hired Vanderbilt assistant Derek Johnson as their minor league pitching coordinator.
Johnson spent the past 11 seasons as the Commodores' pitching coach, helping the 2011 team reach the College World Series. Two pitchers on that team were selected the early picks in the amateur draft, with Sonny Gray going to Oakland at No. 18 and Tampa Bay taking Grayson Garvin at No. 59.
Johnson also helped develop first-round picks in Mike Minor (seventh overall, Atlanta, 2009), Casey Weathers (eighth, Colorado, 2007) and Jeremy Sowers (sixth, Cleveland, 2004) as well as Jensen Lewis, a third-round pick by Cleveland in 2005 who has pitched four seasons in the majors.
Chicago announced the hiring on Tuesday.
