SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Intimidators Send Two to All-Star Game

Published on June 4, 2013 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - The Kannapolis Intimidators, Class A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, are sending two players to Lakewood, N.J., for the 2013 South Atlantic League All-Star Game on June 28. Second baseman Micah Johnson and outfielder Jason Coats will represent Kannapolis as starters for the Northern Division squad in the mid-season exhibition at FirstEnergy Park, home of the Lakewood BlueClaws.

Johnson, the Minor League leader in stolen bases, serves as the Intimidators leadoff man. The speedster has swiped 47 bags in 60 attempts (.783), 14 stolen bases ahead of the next-closest base runner. The 22-year-old infielder ranks tied for second in the Minors with 50 runs scored, tops in the SAL. Johnson is also tied for the league lead in triples (5), ranks eighth with a .320 average (66-206), and is tied for ninth in on-base percentage (.408). From May 26-28, Johnson hit home runs in three consecutive games. He is currently leading the team with in average, is tied for the Intimidators lead with four home runs and is second on the team with 29 RBI in 52 games. Johnson entered this season as the White Sox No. 25 Prospect according to Baseball America and was named the fastest runner in the Sox 2012 draft class after being selected out of Indiana in the ninth round. He made his professional debut last season with Advanced Rookie Great Falls, batting .273 with four home runs with 25 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 69 games.

Coats, 23, leads the Intimidators with 32 RBI, tied for 16th in the SAL. He is batting .283 (56-198) with three home runs and 13 doubles through 50 games with Kannapolis. Coats is in his professional debut this season after recovering from a knee injury suffered in May 2012. The White Sox selected him in the 29th round of the June 2012 draft out of TCU, where he graduated with a degree in accounting. Coats was a four-year starter for the Horned Frogs and was named First-Team All- Mountain West both on the field and in the classroom in 2012. He finished his collegiate career as a three-time All-Mountain West honoree (2010-12) and two-time Academic All-Mountain West selection (also in 2010). He was part of the first TCU team to reach the College World Series as a sophomore in 2010. Coats was named the 2009 NCAA Fort Worth Regional MVP as a freshman. As a high school senior, he helped guide Plano West (Texas) to a perfect 28-0 record and the 5A state championship.

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