SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento State baseball players Craig Johnson and John Acha were each selected on the final day of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, it was announced today. Johnson, a junior from Porterville, Calif., was selected by the San Diego Padres as an outfielder in the 19th round (557th pick). Acha, a senior from Turlock, Calif., was taken by the San Francisco Giants as a third baseman in the 25th round (760th selection). The duo joins senior second baseman Jack Arroyo who was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 18th round yesterday. Johnson finished his first year with the program after transferring from Porterville JC. The right fielder ended the year leading the squad in batting average (.337), doubles (13), triples (three), RBI (42), slugging percentage (.488), walks (47), on-base percentage (.471) and sacrifice bunts (10). His sacrifice total ties him for first in the program single-season record book. He also finished the year with 54 runs, 69 hits, four home runs, 100 total bases, 18 stolen bases and six outfield assists while not missing a game all season.
During the year, Johnson was named NCAA Div. I Independent Player of the Week (May 17, May 5), Independent Newcomer of the Week (March 31) and Hornet Bookstore Student Athlete of the Week (March 28). He was also selected to the Academic All-District VIII first team and was named to the Div. I Independent All-Academic team. Most recently, Johnson became the second Hornet to receive Independent Newcomer of the Year and first team all-NCAA Div. I Independent honors (Mikela Olsen - 2003).
Acha competed in his second season with the Hornet program after transferring from Modesto JC. The third baseman was leading the squad in most offensive categories until suffering a finger injury which forced him to sit out 12 games. Despite missing time, Acha still tied for the team lead with eight home runs. Acha finished the 2004 season batting .306 with 59 hits, 34 RBI, 92 total bases, a .477 slugging percentage, a .376 on-base percentage and nine stolen bases.
On March 9, he was named NCAA Div. I Independent Player of the Week and was recently selected Hornet Male Senior Student-Athlete of the Year. He was also selected to the Academic All-District VIII first team and to the Div. I Independent All-Academic team. Most recently, Acha was named to the 2004 NCAA Div. I all-Independent second team.
As a junior, Acha batted .322 with 57 hits, nine doubles, three triples, two home runs, 24 RBI, 78 total bases and a .441 slugging percentage as a utility infielder. On April 5, 2003, he set the program single-game record by recording two triples in a game against Cal State Hayward.
Acha became the second Hornet to be taken by the San Francisco Giants in consecutive seasons after Jesse Schmidt was selected in 2003. With three Hornets being drafted, Sacramento State received at least three picks in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1986-87. Last year, juniors Chris Kinsey (fourth), Schmidt (10th) and Olsen (15th) were selected.
