No. 1 ranked player in the Class of 2012, Spencer Johnson (right) recently made his committment to Missouri State University, joining what looks to be a strong recruiting class for the Bears. We caught up with Spencer to get some thoughts.

PBR: What were the reasons that you ultimately chose Missouri State?

Johnson: I chose Missouri State because it’s here in town.  My family is here and they can come watch me play. Also, MSU seems like it will offer the most opportunities for me to play as a freshman.

PBR: What was the relationship you had with Coach Guttin in the recruitment process?

Johnson: My relationship with Coach Guttin is great. I feel very comfortable with all of the coaches at MSU. During the recruitment process Coach Guttin came and watched some of my games, as well as the other coaches. We’ve stayed in contact every week since July 1^st.

PBR: As Missouri’s top ranked Class of 2012 player, has the MO St. coaching staff indicated what position they’d like you to play at the next level?

Johnson: No, we haven’t really talked about a certain position yet. This summer I played in the outfield so I would have more versatility on defense.

PBR: Do you feel that playing in Southwest Missouri and facing the competition you do has prepared you to be a DI player?

Johnson: I believe that playing summer ball with the Midwest Nationals has helped prepare me for the DI level. Playing next summer will help and prepare me even more for that next step.

PBR: As a player who attended the Prep Baseball Report’s Super 60 Showcase in Chicago last winter, what are your thoughts (if any) regarding the 2012 MLB Draft in June?

Johnson: I’m not really going to worry about the Draft too much. I’m going to prepare myself for MSU the best that I can and just see what happens with the pro side of things.

PBR: What are your thoughts on the implementation of BBCOR bats from a hitting and pitching perspective?

Johnson: BBCOR bats are definitely a change. This summer we hit with wood for the most part, but if we didn’t use wood, we used BBCOR. I do like the BBCOR though. They are quite a bit different than the BESR bats. They have a noticeably smaller sweet spot and that really makes a difference.

PBR: What team did you play for over the summer and how did it go for you? Were there any aspects of your game that you wanted to improve during the summer?

Johnson: I played with the Midwest Nationals. The competition was great and it gave me a lot of exposure. It was a great experience. I feel like I could have hit better. Using wood bats took me a little longer to adjust to than I wish it would have.

PBR: As you head into your senior year, is it good to have the commitment and recruiting process done?

Johnson: It is a big relief to know where I am going as I head into my senior year. It feels good to know that I don’t have to worry about where I’m going to play in college.

PBR: Do you feel that this season will be any different considering that you know where you’ll attend college?

Johnson: I don’t think this season will be any different. I’m still going to work hard at everything and get better. Knowing that I am going to MSU motivates me even more.