University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Johnson Named Assistant Athletic Trainer for Baseball
1/8/2020 11:00:00 AM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Baseball program has hired former Minnesota Twins minor league athletic trainer, Chris Johnson, as their new Assistant Athletic Trainer. Johnson has officially assumed the duties of his new role.
Hailing from Burnsville, Minn. and a graduate of Burnsville High School, Johnson comes to the U after 14 seasons working as an athletic trainer throughout the Twins minor league system. After joining the Twins organization in 2006, Johnson worked for years as the Class AA Chattanooga Lookouts' athletic trainer, before moving to the Class AAA Rochester Red Wings in advance of the 2018 season.
In addition to his work with the Twins, Johnson spent the previous off-seasons working with Sports and Orthopedic Specialists, as well as several winter youth baseball programs. The latter includes experience assisting with the Twins Training Academy.
Considered an expert working with overhead throwers, Johnson was heavily involved with the Sports and Orthopedic Specialists' Return to Throw Program, designed to assist athletes who are coming back from shoulder or elbow injuries. Johnson also assisted with the development of various other throwing-related programs, such as the Return to Pitch and UCL management protocols.
Through his 14 seasons in professional baseball, Johnson pursued additional certifications and education in multiple disciplines of manual therapy techniques, soft tissue manipulation and mobility training. These include Certification in Applied Functional Science (CAFS) and Functional Soft Tissue Transformation (FSTT) through the Gray Institute, Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) Certification, Graston M1 Certification, Functional Movement Systems (FMS) Level 1 Certification, Functional Range Conditioning and Functional Range Release.
Johnson also attended courses on Applied Techniques of Manual Therapy focused on mobilization of the cervical spine, thoracic spine and ribs. In 2018, Johnson completed the Cressey Sports Performance Elite Baseball Mentorship as well.
Working with U of M baseball players will be nothing new for Johnson, who arrives with previous experience assisting former members of the Maroon and Gold in their professional careers. Among Gopher greats Johnson has worked with are Mike Kvasnicka, Kyle Knudson, Nate Hanson and A.J. Petterson.
Although Johnson has already begun his new position at the U, he and the rest of the Minnesota Baseball program will truly get to work when the 2020 season begins with a battle against Oregon in Tempe, Ariz. on Feb. 14.
Hailing from Burnsville, Minn. and a graduate of Burnsville High School, Johnson comes to the U after 14 seasons working as an athletic trainer throughout the Twins minor league system. After joining the Twins organization in 2006, Johnson worked for years as the Class AA Chattanooga Lookouts' athletic trainer, before moving to the Class AAA Rochester Red Wings in advance of the 2018 season.
In addition to his work with the Twins, Johnson spent the previous off-seasons working with Sports and Orthopedic Specialists, as well as several winter youth baseball programs. The latter includes experience assisting with the Twins Training Academy.
Considered an expert working with overhead throwers, Johnson was heavily involved with the Sports and Orthopedic Specialists' Return to Throw Program, designed to assist athletes who are coming back from shoulder or elbow injuries. Johnson also assisted with the development of various other throwing-related programs, such as the Return to Pitch and UCL management protocols.
Through his 14 seasons in professional baseball, Johnson pursued additional certifications and education in multiple disciplines of manual therapy techniques, soft tissue manipulation and mobility training. These include Certification in Applied Functional Science (CAFS) and Functional Soft Tissue Transformation (FSTT) through the Gray Institute, Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) Certification, Graston M1 Certification, Functional Movement Systems (FMS) Level 1 Certification, Functional Range Conditioning and Functional Range Release.
Johnson also attended courses on Applied Techniques of Manual Therapy focused on mobilization of the cervical spine, thoracic spine and ribs. In 2018, Johnson completed the Cressey Sports Performance Elite Baseball Mentorship as well.
Working with U of M baseball players will be nothing new for Johnson, who arrives with previous experience assisting former members of the Maroon and Gold in their professional careers. Among Gopher greats Johnson has worked with are Mike Kvasnicka, Kyle Knudson, Nate Hanson and A.J. Petterson.
Although Johnson has already begun his new position at the U, he and the rest of the Minnesota Baseball program will truly get to work when the 2020 season begins with a battle against Oregon in Tempe, Ariz. on Feb. 14.
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