Olin Johnson’s UNC baseball commitment is full-circle moment
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (BVM) –Olin Johnson grew up in the state of Washington, but the University of North Carolina was always a theme for him growing up. His mother grew up a huge Tar Heel fan in the area. His late grandfather wouldn’t miss a UNC basketball game. Now Johnson himself will have an opportunity to represent the school on the baseball field.
“It’s really surreal,” Johnson said. “When I get on campus, it’ll start to feel real. I’m just hoping that I can make them proud. It means a lot to me to be able to go there. It means a lot to my family.”
Johnson has established himself as a top pitcher at the high school level over the past couple of years at McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he transferred as a junior.
He can already hit the mid-90s with his fastball and has a nasty slider, one of the best in the country at the prep level. Johnson has pitched so well that he is ranked as the No. 201 prospect for the upcoming MLB draft by MLB Pipeline.
RHP Olin Johnson, the product of Bellingham, Washington, is getting some late spring helium. He’s added velocity and has been up to 96 the last few weeks. Kid has a banger breaking ball too. Johnson is a North Carolina commit. pic.twitter.com/BhKucoemYZ
— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) April 20, 2023
But Johnson was already a solid player before he moved to the Volunteer State, in fact, he committed to Washington State as a freshman. He decommitted in the summer leading up to his senior year, and within a week’s span, he pledged to the Tar Heels.
“North Carolina came through and I knew that’s where I really wanted to go,” Johnson said.
There were plenty of scouts and college coaches at McCallie games this past year as its pitching staff included Johnson, Florida commit Grayson Smith and Ole Miss commit Hudson Calhoun.
RHP Olin Johnson (McCallie (TN), 2023) has pitched two scoreless in an intra city battle vs Baylor. FB: 89-92 T93 with AA carry life, CB: 70-75 with 12/6 shape that flashes AA at 74-75. Shows a CH at 82 with slicing action and average potential with development. UNC commit. pic.twitter.com/4GcqvFcWnT
— Will Hoefer (@whoeferbaseball) April 26, 2023
Johnson shined for the Blue Tornado as a senior and now has an opportunity with the 2023 MLB Draft if that is something he wants to pursue, but he will wait to focus on it until the time comes.
“I like to just keep doing what I’m doing,” Johnson said. “I don’t read too much into it or overhype it. I don’t like to make things bigger than they are. I think about it definitely, but I just think about it as another possibility.”
Olin Johnson (2023 Bellingham, WA.) @DiamondHeels commit bringing some 🔥 this morning with his long easy delivery and good extension through release. Touching 88mph with some late turn over action at times. Tall lean frame with room for added strength. #WWBAQual @PG_PacificNW pic.twitter.com/0NyEKDNQXw
— Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) September 17, 2022
Johnson will know his fate a couple of weeks from now, but if he does wind up in Chapel Hill, he would love to help the team out right away.
“I want to be able to go into UNC and make an impact as a freshman,” Johnson said. “That’s the goal. To go help the team win.”
