Matthew Johnson will get the opportunity to pursue a lifelong dream, as the recent College of Wooster graduate signed a free agent contract Tuesday with Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays. Johnson reported to the team's training facility in the Tampa area, and was assigned to the Auburn Doubledays, located just west of Syracuse, N.Y.

The Doubledays are part of the New York-Penn League, the oldest Class A league in minor league baseball, having continually operated since 1939, and their season starts this Friday, June 18, and runs through early September.

Johnson, who started at both shortstop and second base for the Fighting Scots, becomes just the second Wooster baseball player since 1990 to ink a professional contract, with the other being Jared Treadway, who was drafted in 2002 and spent several seasons in the New York Yankees' minor league system.

"It's a great opportunity for (Matthew)," said long-time Scot head coach Tim Pettorini. "He definitely deserved a chance to keep playing. It's something you dream about your whole life, getting paid to play. Shoot, that's awesome."

Johnson is coming off a collegiate season, in which he earned third-team All-American accolades from the American Baseball Coaches Association and honorable mention on the D3baseball.com All-America Team. The 6-3, 210-pound right-hander batted out of the leadoff spot and compiled a .459 average with 14 doubles, a school-record eight triples, and team-leading 11 home runs. He scored 69 times, ranking second in NCAA Div. III in runs scored (1.60 per game), and drove in 41 runs, while also drawing 20 walks as part of a .532 on-base percentage and stealing 14 bases.

For his efforts, which also included finishing 24th in the country in batting average, tied for ninth in total runs, tied for 21st in hits (79), tied for fifth in triples, and 21st in slugging percentage (.826), Johnson collected the North Coast Athletic Conference Player-of-the-Year award as well as first-team all-Mideast Region status.

A local product, Johnson came to Wooster from nearby Orrville and took over the starting shortstop duties for 11 of the last 13 games of his freshman season. He was the permanent starter at short as a sophomore, notching honorable mention on the All-NCAC Team, and looked primed for a big junior campaign. After starting the first 32 games, all at shortstop, and hitting .354 out of the No. 5 hole, Johnson suffered an arm injury that took him out of the lineup, but he still managed to make an impact as a pinch runner while the Scots advanced all the way to the national championship game.

An off-season of hard work and an unselfish move to second base later, Johnson put together the best season of his career this spring, leading to interest from the pro scouts.

"It's really a credit to him," Pettorini remarked. "He's the one that's done the rehab and done the extra things that needed to be done (to be) playing at an extremely high level."

While Johnson was a middle infielder throughout his Wooster career, Pettorini believes he can play most any position, which adds to his potential within the Blue Jays' organization.

"He'll probably be a utility guy. Guys who were drafted will get the first shot. They're going to find a spot for him, (though), if he can swing the bat the way I think he can. His best baseball is in front of him."

Fans can follow Johnson's career at www.auburndoubledays.com.