Ryan Johnson - Ambidextrous Pitcher

Ryan Johnson

Combs High School, Class of 2013
San Tan Valley, AZ

College Commitment: Eastern Arizona College
A community college in Thatcher, AZ

Positions: LHP, RHP, 1B
Height/Weight: 6'3", 185 lb
Bats: Left
Throws: Both (Ambidextrous), left-hand dominant
Velocity: LHP, low 80's; RHP, high 70s

Ryan Johnson is an ambidextrous pitcher who is more accurate throwing left-handed compared to right-handed. In his junior year, he had a 3-1 record on the mound with a 2.62 ERA and 13 strikouts in 16 innings pitched. He posted a .338 BA with 20 RBIs over 26 games. Johnson plays for the Combs Coyotes.

Senior Year

As a senior in 2013, Ryan Johnson posted 5 wins with a 5.12 ERA as a switch pitcher for the Combs Coyotes. Johnson had 34 strikeouts and 27 walks over 41 innings pitched. As a hitter, he chalked up a .513 BA with 26 RBIs and 3 HR. (source: maxpreps)

.513 BA / 3 HR / 39 HITS / 26 RBI / .627 OBP / .711 SLG%

Ledger Athlete of the Week for May 15, 2013

Ryan Johnson, CHS

Southeast Vallery Ledger

May 17, 2013

Are you ambidextrous? Did you teach yourself or is it a natural-born talent?

Yes. It’s always been natural to me. I threw a baseball left-handed and a football right-handed. I tried throwing the baseball right-handed and it worked.

What are your plans after Graduation?

I have a scholarship to Eastern Arizona College so I am going to play baseball there. I want to become veterinarian.

(Southeast Valley Ledger)

Switching it Up
Combs Courier
April 21, 2013 • Arianna Fonseca & Melanie Figueroa, Staff Writers

The MLB has none, college teams have few, and high schools’ having one is rare. Yet right here at Combs High School there is one of these rarities, a switch pitcher.

”Switch pitching” is a baseball term for a pitcher who has the ability to pitch efficiently with both hands. Ryan Johnson, CHS senior, has been playing baseball for Combs since middle school, and now plays for the Varsity baseball team. It didn’t take long for him to find out he could switch pitch, and since then Johnson has used it to his advantage.

“I’ve switch pitched since about 7th grade,” said Johnson. “I have always thrown a football right handed and a baseball left handed, so one day I just tried pitching right handed and it worked.”

Since then, Johnson has been able to use both arms consistently throughout a practice or a game. He even uses a six fingered glove while playing, which is specific to switch pitchers.

Ryan Johnson - beRecruited

Ryan Johnson Stats - MaxPreps (Senior)

Ryan Johnson Stats - MaxPreps (Junior)
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Comments

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Switch Pitching 101

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