Future Games Started It All For Sacred Heart Commit Johnston

TRUMBULL, Ct. - It was just more than a year ago that the recruitment of Connor Johnston took off. Now the 16th-ranked senior right-handed pitcher in New England is entering his final year of high school at Trumbull as a college commit to Sacred Heart.

“I had my first conversation with them a year and a month ago,” Johnston reflected. “They saw me at the PBR Future Games and really liked what they saw.”

Interest from the Northeast Conference school picked up more this year.

“Once the dead period was lifted, they saw me a couple more times and I built a relationship with the pitching coach,” Johnston noted. “I came on a visit a few weeks ago and they offered.”

Johnston liked what he saw at the Division I university located in Fairfield.

“The campus was breathtaking,” explained Johnston. “Being so close to the school, I was worried I might not get that college feel. But after being there it was where I want to be and spend the next four or five years of my life. I called back the next day and accepted the offer.”

Sacred Heart was one of a number of schools that had Johnston on their radar.

“The Future Games started everything off,” the fourth-rated 2022 RHP in Connecticut pointed out. “It was a really good experience for me and a great opportunity to get exposure and play great competition. Rhode Island, Bryant and Sacred Heart were the three I pursued and talked to the most after the Future Games.”

But it was Sacred Heart that came out on top.

“They saw a lot of potential in me,” Johnston noted. “They like my size, my fastball command, that I can throw breaking balls for strikes and that I compete. That’s what I try to do every time I go out to the mound.”

A connection with Sacred Heart grew over the course of the last 13 months.

“The biggest reason is the coaching staff,” the 57th-ranked senior in New England said of his decision to go to college 15 minutes from home. “I have a good relationship with pitching coach (Wayne) Mazzoni and I also got to know (assistant) coach (PJ) DeFilippo, and then on the visit (head) coach (Nick) Restaino.”

An improved game has been vital in making an impression for the 17-year-old.

“My offspeed pitches are where I’ve made the biggest improvement to my game,” the 6-3 200-pounder related. “My fastball has been consistent, I’ve always had that, but developing a slider and curve the last year has been big. I now have the confidence to throw them in any count in any situation.”

And with that trust has come the opportunity to pitch at the next level.

“My first year at the big field I had a coach that was heavily into recruiting and would talk to me about different things,” Johnston said. “That’s when my love for baseball began to grow more and more and the dream began. After the Future Games it all hit me that I’d be able to pursue that dream and play college baseball.”

Summer coaches Michael Morris and Garrett Walker have been the biggest influences in the journey, according to Johnston, who believes he can make a positive impact at Sacred Heart.

“I’m a guy who will do anything in his power to bring my team a win,” Johnston pointed out. “I’ll be the hardest worker there is and push the other guys no matter the situation. I’ll work to do whatever it takes to make Sacred Heart the best it can be.”

Business, sports nutrition and sport management are among the majors being considered by Johnston, a 3.7 student that enjoyed the recruiting process.

“The biggest surprise I had with it was how fast it started after the Future Games,” Johnston said. “The hardest part was Covid and the coaches not being able to see me, so I sent out videos to coaches.”

In the end, the reward proved to be big.

“The best part is when it’s all accomplished,” Johnson concluded. “You completed the goal and the dream to be a college baseball player.”