ˌɔn dʒˈuːn fˈaɪv, tˈuː θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪt, dʒˈɑːnsən ænd ˈʌðɚ plˈeɪɚz fɹʌmðə nˈiːɡɹoʊ lˈiːɡ ˈiəɹə wɜː dɹˈæftᵻd baɪ mˈeɪdʒɚ lˈiːɡ fɹˈæntʃaɪzᵻz pɹˈaɪɚ tə ðə tˈuː θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪt ˌɛmˌɛlbˈiː fˈɜːst jˈɪɹ dɹˈæft.
On June 5, 2008, Johnson and other players from the Negro league era were drafted by major league franchises prior to the 2008 MLB First year Draft.