Johnson Called Up to Major Leagues

SEATTLE -- Former Univerisity of Nebraska All-American Dan Johnson became the 20th Husker baseball player to reach the Major Leagues, as he was called up to the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.

Johnson, the Pacific Coast League MVP this season, will be making his Major League debut after hitting .299 with 29 home runs and 111 RBIs in 142 games with the Sacramento River Cats. In the postseason, the 25-year-old batted .458 with two home runs and six RBIs in seven playoff games, earning playoff MVP honors.

"I think he's an offensive force," Oakland manager Ken Macha told MLB.com. "He had a great year -- MVP of the league -- (he's) got a chance to be in the next league next year."

Johnson played two seasons with the Huskers (2000-01), earning first-team All-America honors as a senior. In his final season at Nebraska, he batted .361 with a school-record 25 homers and 86 RBIs, leading the Big 12 in both homers and RBIs. A finalist for the Dick Howser Award for national player of the year, he also led the Big 12 in runs scored (77), walks (63), on-base percentage (.507) and slugging percentage (.762).

Johnson was one of three players called up from Triple A, joining pitchers Justin Lehr and Joe Blanton, after Sacramento's sweep of Iowa in the PCL Playoffis.

Johnson is one of three former Huskers currently in the Major Leagues, joining Kansas City Royal All-Star Ken Harvey and two-time All-Star Darin Erstad of the Anaheim Angels.