BOISE, Idaho – Former RSU Baseball pitcher Blake Johnson has signed his first professional contract with the Boise Hawks. He will be added to the active roster prior to tonight's matchup against the Missoula PaddleHeads.
 
"We are so excited for this well-deserved opportunity that Blake has earned," commented head coach Chris Klimas. "Blake has worked extremely hard on the field and in the weight room to prepare himself for this moment, and we can't wait to continue to follow his success as a professional!"
 
A native of San Dimas, California, Johnson played two seasons on the Hill, where he took on both starting and relief roles within the Hillcat pitching staff. In 41 appearances (14 starts), he tallied 84 strikeouts over 103.0 innings. Additionally, he collected three wins (3-7 overall record) and added a pair of saves. Notably, he recorded a career-high nine strikeouts against Fort Hays State in 2024 and opened the 2025 season with six strikeouts against Upper Iowa.
 
The Boise Hawks, based in Boise, Idaho, are an independent baseball team in the Pioneer League that partners with Major League Baseball. They joined the Pioneer League in 2021 after spending 33 seasons as a Class A Short Season affiliate in the Northwest League, associated with the California/Anaheim Angels (1990-2000), Chicago Cubs (2001-2014) and Colorado Rockies (2015-2020). The Hawks have a rich history, with six league championships and 10 division titles to their name.

Johnson is the second Hillcat from the class of 2025 this week to sign a pro contract, joining teammate Colton Anderson, who recently signed with the Evansville Otters.