A Historic Selection
Andrew Johnson, a sophomore pitcher for the USC Trojans, has etched his name into school history by becoming the first USC baseball player since 2005 to be selected for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
His breakthrough began during the Stars vs. Stripes series, where he limited opponents to just three hits and one run over five innings while striking out five batters, a performance that caught the attention of national selectors.
Johnson will now travel to Taiwan to compete in the World Collegiate Baseball Championship from July 11 through July 15, representing the United States on an international stage.
The 2026 season marked a career high for Johnson, who finished with a 7‑2 record, a 3.23 earned run average and 85 strikeouts across 15 appearances for the Trojans, and posted a 2.18 ERA in 20.2 innings during the NCAA Tournament.
Looking Ahead
With ace Mason Edwards expected to depart for the MLB Draft, Johnson is poised to anchor the Trojans’ rotation in the 2027 campaign, while fellow sophomore Grant Govel, who posted a 2.93 ERA and 96 strikeouts last season, will also remain a key contributor.
Despite losses to the transfer portal, the Trojans finished the 2026 campaign with a 48‑18 overall record and a 20‑10 mark in Big Ten play, underscoring the program’s resilience and ambition to stay among the conference’s elite.
The upcoming season also brings familiar faces back to the mound, including Ian Kennedy, Andy Stankiewicz, Adrian Lopez, Augie Lopez and Isaac Cadena, all of whom contributed to the team’s depth and will look to build on last year’s success.