The Thunder Bay Border Cats are proud to announce that former Cats outfielder Matty Johnson has signed a professional contract with the Boston Red Sox organization. The Red Sox purchased Johnson’s contract from the Gateway Grizzlies of the independent Frontier League. The Grizzlies are based in Sauget, Illinois.

Johnson played his first season of professional baseball this past summer with the Grizzlies and batted .317 in 47 games. The speedy centre fielder stole 24 bases and added six doubles, three triples and 19 RBI’s in 182 at-bats. The 22 year old native of Lewisville, TX hit .431 in 2009 and .427 in 2010 in his final two seasons at Bellevue University in Nebraska.

Johnson joined the Border Cats midway through the 2009 season. The switch-hitting outfielder played in 28 games and hit .336 with one home run and 13 runs batted in, while leading the team with 21 stolen bases.