About Ben Johnstone & Top Tier Baseball

  • Professional Baseball Instructor
  • Athletic Development Specialist
  • Academic Mentor and Tutor
  • Founder of Top Tier Baseball, LLC
  • Founder of Top Tier Recruiting, LLC
  • 5 Years of Professional Baseball Experience
  • 10 Years of Coaching Experience Through the College Level
 

Atlanta, GA

Ben was born and raised in Atlanta where he attended Lakeside High School and Norcross High School. At LHS and NHS Ben was a 3-year Varsity Letterman in Football and a 4-year Varsity Letterman in Baseball.

In his younger years Ben played baseball at Medlock Park, Murphy Candler, and Dunwoody Senior, and later he played in the East Cobb program where he was a member of 3 national championship teams.

Yale and The Cape Cod League

Ben attended Yale University where he majored in Child and Adolescent Psychology while playing 2 years of football and 3 years of baseball for the Yale Bulldogs.

The summer after his sophomore year at Yale Ben played for the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod Baseball League. He was selected to the Cape League All-Star Team, was named the Whitecaps’ Most Valuable Offensive Player, and was presented with the Cape League’s Sportsmanship Award.

Following his junior year at Yale, having earned team MVP, All-Ivy, and All-New England honors Ben was drafted by the Chicago Cubs.

The Minor Leagues

Baseball America named Ben tops in the “Best Defensive Outfielder” and “Best Speed” categories for the Cubs’ 1999 draft class.

During his 4 years in Chicago’s organization Ben earned the Cubs’ Most Valuable Player awards during their 1999 Instructional League and again during their 2000 Spring Training. While playing in Lansing, MI in 2000 Ben led the entire Cubs’ system in stolen bases (54) and was named the Midwest League’s “Fastest Baserunner” by Baseball America.

In his off-seasons Ben began coaching youth, high school, and college players in the Atlanta area and in Connecticut.

A Yale Degree, College Mentoring, and A Love of Coaching

In the falls of 2002 & 2003 Ben returned to Yale to complete his Psychology degree. The following spring injuries led to the end of his playing career, and Ben began working as a college mentor guiding high school students and athletes in their academic and athletic college pursuits.

Today Ben continues mentoring student athletes and college hopefuls and is also in his 8th year of providing instruction in the areas of HITTING, BASERUNNING, and FIELDING. Ben also trains athletes of all sports in the areas of SPEED & STRENGTH DEVELOPMENT. He has coached players at the youth, high school, and college levels and has instructed coaches as high as the college level.

Top Tier Baseball – Become a Student of the Game!

In 2008 Ben established Top Tier Baseball, LLC. Through Top Tier Baseball’s instructional programs players, coaches, and parents can develop skills, build confidence, and become true students of the game. Call or email to get started today!