MSU Seniors Rea, Johnson Sign With Cubs, Devil Rays
Rea, from Nettleton, Miss., has signed with the Chicago Cubs and will report next Tuesday to Mesa, Ariz., to begin his career with the Mesa Cubs of the Arizona League. Rea was chosen in the 18th round by the Cubs.
Johnson, from Caledonia, Miss., inked with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and has departed for his career-opening assignment with Hudson Valley Renegades of the New York-Penn League in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. The MSU right-hander was the first player selected in the 16th round of the MLB June draft.
Rea compiled a .343 batting average with 84 hits, 29 walks and a team-best 13 stolen bases as a senior. In four seasons he piled up a Mississippi State career-record 335 hits, third-most in Southeastern Conference history. He posted a .336 career batting average, starting 235 of his 236 career games played and serving as MSU’s lead-off hitter in 233 games. Rea started 49 of his 59 games in 2007 at second base before moving to the outfield for the final 10 games of the season. A second-team All-SEC selection at second base, Rea was named to the all-tournament team as an outfielder at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional.
Johnson compiled a 3-3 record with a 6.02 earned run average as a senior in 2007. He appeared in 55 career games, 39 as a starter, compiling a 17-8 record and a 5.18 career ERA with 200 strikeouts in 231.0 innings pitched. Johnson’s last decision was a win and came in a solid six-inning start in Mississippi State’s NCAA Tallahassee Regional-clinching 9-4 win over No. 6 national seed Florida State.
Junior catcher Edward Easley (Arizona Diamondbacks, supplemental first round) and junior first baseman Mitch Moreland (Texas Rangers, 17th round), were also selected in the June draft.