Marauders Manager is a Navy-Inspired Leader

Spend a few minutes with Bradenton Marauders manager Jonathan Johnston and it s clear that he has a long baseball career ahead of him.

This weekend, the Marauders are finishing up a six-game homestand with Florida State League divisional foe Lakeland Flying Tigers. Aside from the crowds attracted to LECOM Park and keeping up on the club s win-loss record, it s the player development with the Single-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates that is front and center.

For the third straight season, Pirates minor league honchos up north have entrusted Johnston to accept the lead in building better ballplayers in Bradenton. After having a brief sit-down in his office, I m thoroughly convinced that Johnston is the right man in installing confidence and character in his young players.

Instantly, I characterized Johnston as a leader. If he were in the film business, without discussion, the Sarasota resident would be John McClane, the fictitious super cop of the Die Hard franchise. He s the guy you want on your side when times get tough.

Sitting behind his desk at LECOM Park, Johnston doesn t search for words or even pause to connect thoughts. He knows exactly what he wants to say and how. He is in command. Maybe his confidence comes from good parenting back during his youth in Trenton, New Jersey, or maybe it s a combination of his four years of service in Annapolis, Maryland at the United States Naval Academy.

Having risen to the rank of lieutenant, as manager of the Marauders, Johnston, or simply JJ as those around the club refer to him, embraces the challenge of leading young men with a common cause.

What a ride it has been for the Navy veteran  so far.

""It (Naval Academy) was just what I needed when I was 18 years old, said Johnston, who would play for the Academy s Division-I baseball program all four years that he attended USNA. ""When I was in the eighth grade, I had a teacher mention the academy. That s when I first started thinking about it .

As one of five children, going to college, as Johnston tells, would instill the discipline in him that most kids his age may need, even if they may not be consciously aware of it. Playing on the baseball team added to Johnston s military development and offered a smidge more freedom from required studies.

With math and science always something that he was good at, the Marauders skipper reflects on being able to focus on baseball at the same time.

""My first two and a half years, they were terrible. Then, we got a new head coach (Paul Kostacopoulos), and things turned around.

As a catcher for the Midshipmen, Johnston s play impressed the Oakland A s enough for them to draft the four-year starter (2003-2006) in 2007. However, there was a hold-up, as far as an immediate start to his pro career. For a year after graduation from the Naval Academy, Johnston was deployed to the South China Sea.

While on a ship thousands of miles from the nearest MLB stadium or spring training facility, Johnston was unaware that Oakland selected him in the 42nd round in June of 2007.

""It was cool, remembers Johnston of being wanted by the A s.

Commissioned as an ensign, and owner of a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering, come 2008, the Navy did allow Johnston to have a taste of professional baseball. He attended spring training and was assigned to the Kane County Cougars of the Single-A Midwest League.

One season in, Johnston was called back for duty.

After three deployments, the Navy released Johnston from his commitment to service a half year ahead of the required five years of service.

From his military background, two years playing in minor league ball, toss in more experienced gained in coaching and recruiting on the college level, and earning a master's degree in Sport Leadership, the Pirates would welcome Johnston into their development fold in 2020.

Bradenton finished the 2021 season as the Low-A Southeast Champions.

""The Navy taught me to be the best coach and leader. Where I go from here (Bradenton), I ll be ready, explains Johnston of his employment with the Pirates.

A kid growing up in Central New Jersey traditionally throws their baseball loyalties to the nearby Philadelphia Phillies. However, less than a one-hour drive to where the Phillies play, Johnston followed the Boston Red Sox. Today, it s what happens in Pittsburgh, and all that trickles down within the baseball operations of the organization that Johnston no doubt roots for.

Cheering for Johnston s career to go onward and upward is way too easy. You just know it s going to happen.