Van Johnson

(Editor’s Note: This is the eighteenth installment of the popular “Up Next” series in which we highlight the top underclassmen on Long Island. Previously, we featured Dylan Weinstein, Jaxson Torres, Richie Roberts, Joe Maxwell, Dom Muccia, Logan Lamberson, Fred Klauck, Jake Ostertag, Mason Gatchalian, Jagger Franco, Evan Frangas, Ryan Matson, Dylan Frers, Aidan Dobrie, Tyler D’Amico, Lucas Sweeting & Shea Corona. You can read them all by clicking here. Special thanks to Ken Kortright State Farm Agency for sponsoring this year’s series.) The era of the two-way players is upon us. While the phrase ‘P.O.’ became far too common in the 2010s, we are seeing a revival of top-tier pitchers that are also impact bats at the lower levels of the game. There’s one explanation for ...