2026 Baseball interview with August Johnson from Whetstone

 

August Johnson

Whetstone High School, Columbus, Ohio

Positions played: SS/RHP

Class: 2028

Height and Weight: 6’0, 180

Jersey Number: 22

Awards won or earned:

Baseball 2025 - All City Shortstop

Swimming 2024-2025 - Rookie Of The Year

FieldLevel Profile:

https://www.fieldlevel.com/app/profile/august.johnson/baseball?m=4

Other sports played:

Swimming. I swam club from 7 to 14 years old, and now I just swim for Whetstone. I just competed with our three relays at D1 Districts—the first time Whetstone has had swimmers advance that far at the D1 level. There’s some really competitive swimming in central Ohio.

Please post something from last season that sticks out to you. It can be from a game, practice, or something funny on the bus ride to or from the game. Any moment that sticks out to you.

There isn’t a specific moment that sticks out, but really it was just a great first-year experience in high school ball. I got to play a ton of games last year. I played every varsity game and most of the junior varsity games. I was thrown into it pretty quickly, and I got to learn on my feet. We had a great team last year too. Going out to eat as a team, building friendships, and getting better as a team.

How long have you played baseball, and who, or what got you started?

I started playing baseball (t-ball) when I was 5 years old. When I was 4, my parents took me and my brother to an Ohio State baseball game. They thought we’d eat hot dogs for dinner and leave after a couple innings, but I was captivated. We ended up staying the whole game, and my parents say I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.

What are you going to miss the most from the 2025 class?

I’m going to miss how much they led the team, not just on the field but also by initiating hangouts outside of games and practices and making us all more of a team.

Which position do you feel you are better at, shortstop or pitcher?

I’m a shortstop first. Starting at a really young age, I would challenge myself with rep after rep off the rebounder in the driveway or off the front steps. I would try to set new PRs of reps without drops—glove forehands and backhands, barehand right and left hands, add footwork, etc. All of those reps made me a smooth, sure-handed shortstop. I’m rarely a starting pitcher, but I am a strong two-way player for my teams. I have a sidearm delivery with a lot of movement, and I can hit spots to efficiently eat innings.

What part of your game do you feel is the strongest?

The strongest part of my game is definitely fielding and baseball IQ. I have an instinct for reading the ball and knowing where to go with it, and athleticism in my footwork, direction, and angles.

Which part of your game are you hoping to improve on the most before the season gets started?

I’ve spent the offseason working on my speed and power. I was in the weight room 3–4 times per week all winter, on top of daily 5am swim practices. I had to be really careful about overtraining, but baseball development is my first priority. I definitely made gains—my max lifts, sprint times, pitch speeds, and exit velocities all continue to improve.

What was the highlight of the 2025 season?

The highlight last year was our spring break trip to Cleveland. Coach rented a house and planned a trip to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the team picked up two wins against good teams. It was a lot of fun, and we really enjoyed spending so much time together.

Who has been the best pitcher that you have faced in a game, along with the team he was on?

In our league, probably Isaac Putnam at our rival, Centennial. His performance on the mound last year was impressive. And OCC teams always have strong pitchers.

What are your goals for the 2026 season?

I’d like to be a captain for Whetstone this year. I have stepped up by leading in practices and organizing team events. I hope my leadership can carry over into more wins outside of our league.

What goals are you setting for the team?

Whetstone can beat more OCC teams. Last year we struggled because when we thought the team was better than us, we submitted and let them beat us, or beat ourselves. If we change our mentality, we can defeat better competition.

What do you feel a city league team needs to do to have a long state tourney run?

I think that the most important difference is moxie. When a team has moxie, they play better and never doubt that they can beat good teams, allowing them to compete and make a run in the state tournament.

What is something that you would like to do in a game but might never have a chance to?

My buddy Kaiden has the funniest jokes during games. Someday, maybe I’ll beat him to a joke.

What do you believe needs to be done to get more fans showing up at the games?

Whetstone has really great fan support from students and the Clintonville community. Coach Broskie has built a great program over the last 30+ years, so we have a lot of students, alumni, and community members at our games.

What are you doing in your free time for fun?

I like spending time outdoors with my friends and family—swimming, hiking, biking, and camping. I recently started teaching myself guitar.

What is your favorite class or subject?

I think world history is fascinating. I’ve enjoyed learning about ancient civilizations and the course of human history and events.

What is a style or fad that your generation has that you do not get or understand?

I never understood the trend of all the neon baseball accessories and “drip.” Playing your game should speak for itself.

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