Kyle Johnson flashed a wide grin as he walked off the mound on a humid June evening in Cary, North Carolina. The Duke star had just completed a fantastic freshman year in Durham and earned the right to represent his country on the US National Collegiate team.
In two innings of relief against Chinese Taipei, the then-rising sophomore was electric, tossing two no-hit innings while striking out four. He looked every bit the part of a high first-round draft pick.
“I was just trying to fill up the zone and let the defense do the work,” Johnson said after that USA outing in 2024. “We made some good plays in the outfield.”…