Johnson Selected Angels' Minor League Player of Year

Just after re-enrolling at BYU this month, former BYU baseball player Gary Johnson was named "Minor League Player of the Year" by the Anaheim Angels.

The accompanying trophy has already arrived at Johnson's Atherton, California home, but he hasn't seen it yet. The outfielder who played for the Cougars in 1999 just finished winter ball in Mexico last month.

He hit .313 this past year, splitting time with the Class A Lake Elsinore Storm in California and the AA Erie Seawolves in Pennsylvania. At Lake Elsinore he batted .338 in 70 games with 13 homers and 13 stolen bases. At Erie he batted .287 in 71 games with 10 homers.

"It was a surprise honor for me to be included with past players like Tim Salmon and Ramon Ortiz who have won this before me," said Johnson. He will continue his studies at BYU through March when he might be assigned to AA ball in Little Rock, Ark., with the hope of advancing to Salt Lake City.

Johnson will be awarded a ring with an official presentation at Edison Field in a pre-game ceremony during the 2001 season.