Elite Baseball Training 16U player, Trent Johnson, ranked by Perfect Game as the state’s No. 1 prospect for the class of 2015, made a verbal commitment to play baseball for 2012 National Champion University of Arizona during an unofficial visit to campus last week.
The opportunity is a dream-come-true for Johnson, who grew up spending time at the Wildcats’ new home, Hi Corbett field in Tucson, Arizona. “My grandpa worked security for the Colorado Rockies during spring training and I spent a lot of time there,” said Johnson, who had the chance to be a batboy four years ago when the Rockies played the Mariners.
Johnson is the first player from the class of 2015 to be offered a scholarship and to make a commitment to Arizona, a Pac-12 team that has appeared in the NCAA National Championship title series eight times and captured four national championship titles. The team is coached by Andy Lopez, a two-time National Coach of the Year.
Johnson’s route to becoming Arizona’s first recruit of the 2015 class has not been an easy one. After being called up to the Metamora varsity, early in his freshman year, Johnson had some dominating performances, where his fastball had been reaching 89mph. But soon into his first Varsity season, Johnson experienced back pain, which was later diagnosed as a stress fracture in a vertebrae. The injury sidelined Johnson where he couldn’t participate in the spring or summer physically, but it was clear Johnson would still find a way to help his teammates.
Elite Director, Justin Stone said, “We don’t elect captains, but I think Trent emerged as our pseudo-captain throughout last season. It says a lot about a young man’s character, when he can’t play in a game, to still travel with the team all summer. Beyond that, the leadership he showed during tournaments, made you see real quick, that he’s a special kid, and it goes much deeper than his physical skills.”
Johnson spoke about the injury and not being able to play in Elite’s run to the National Championship game, “I appreciate it more now – every second of it. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do – wanting to be able to help on the field, but being forced to watch. So I’ve learned pretty young, not to take any of it for granted.”
Johnson was starting rehab in the fall, at about the time his teammates from Elite were being visited by college recruiters from all over the country.
“I was about 265 (pounds) coming out of the brace and knew I had a lot of work ahead. As I would rehab, I just kept picturing great things that I wanted to have happen to me. I have to make a commitment to working out, because with my body type, it could go south in a hurry. It’s made me much more disciplined in the way I work out and eat.”
Elite pitching coach Travis Kerber began working with Johnson towards a goal of being able to throw a few innings at the highly scouted, October, Perfect Game National Tournament. Stone added, “Travis and I kind of looked at each other after his first few bullpens where we let him cut it loose. His arm was working easy, and he was throwing hard, with heavy sink. I think after his first full-go bullpen, we said to each other, ‘He has to be close to 90 already.’
Johnson excelled in his limited outings this fall at the Chicago White Sox Silver and Black Showcase and the Perfect Game National, and started to receive heavy interest and offers from schools throughout the United States. Still, he didn’t want to make a college decision until he was seen by the Arizona staff, a school Johnson had dreamed about going to since he was younger.
“When I went to the (Arizona prospect) camp, I pitched 3 innings and didn’t even feel like I was even throwing my hardest. I struck out 7 of 9 batters and they said I was sitting 88 and touching 89’s. They talked to me quite a bit when I was done and we followed up on the phone a few days later.”
And, Johnson’s childhood dream became a reality. “When they offered what they did, I was speechless. Literally I was silent on the phone. I couldn’t believe it.”
Johnson flew to Tucson last Saturday, met with Coach Lopez, and wanted to commit in person.
“That’s just the kind of kid he is” Stone added.
For the Wildcats, Johnson will have a chance to be a two-way guy, but the focus will be on the mound.
Stone continued, “I told him, it’s nice to feel good about having the right decision made, and to get it out of the way, but I said in 16 months, we will be doing this all over again, but on the pro side” as Johnson figures to be one of the more sought after high school draft prospects in the midwest.
Trent is following in the footsteps of his father as a NCAA Division 1 athlete. Tony Johnson played football for the University of Illinois in the 1980s and Trent said without his family’s support he couldn’t live out his dream.
“My dad has really helped me through all of this. He played Division 1 sports so he knows the discipline it demands. I feel I’m a lot more mentally mature because of him. He always pushes me. When I told him I wanted to go out to Arizona, before we made any decisions he said, ‘Well you’ll be a step further than someone who hasn’t tried, even if you don’t make it.’ I’m blessed to have parents that have let me live out my dreams.”
Johnson is Elite’s fourth 16U player that has committed this fall to a Division 1 school,following Brandon Krennrich (Kentucky), Joe Uvelli (Purdue) and Nick Dalesandro (Purdue).
“If I wouldn’t have joined Elite,” Johnson continued, “I wouldn’t be where I am now. From the technical work I get, it’s made me a more confident player.” Johnson makes the drive from Peoria to Chicago twice a week to work with Elite. “Then we get numerous amounts of exposure to go with it.”
“I’m humbled and honored by the opportunities I have been given, but realize that I still have a lot of work to do to in the coming years. I want to be a great baseball player, a valued teammate and want to focus more on my academics now that the recruiting process is behind me.”

Tags: 15U, 16U, Andy Lopez, Arizona, elite, Elite Baseball Training, High School, illinois, Justin Stone, Perfect Game, Prep Baseball Report, Top, travel teams, Travis Kerber, Trent Johnson, Wildcats