Kelly Johnson (baseball)

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[ Phoenix is] just a place I've always liked, it's one of the top for me. Just with the team, we've got guys all over the field that are young, athletic, tons of talent. It's one of the places that you come in and you did not want to face the guys that were on the mound.

— Kelly Johnson, MLB.com: December 30, 2009 [11]

He received the Player of the Month award for the month of April, his first month as a player for the Diamondbacks. He earned the award by hitting nine home runs and a .750 slugging percentage. In his first 22 games, Johnson batted .313 (25-80) with 18 RBI, 17 runs scored and a .404 OBP. [13]

On July 23, 2010, Johnson successfully hit for the cycle against the San Francisco Giants. Johnson hit a solo home run in the first, a ground-rule double in the fifth, a two-run triple in the sixth and completed it with a single in the eighth. Johnson tied the game at 1 with his home run, almost tied the game with a double but it was a ground-rule so Young was held at third base, tied the game at 3 with a 2-run triple, and represented the tying run with his single.

On May 21, 2011, Johnson launched a pitch from Minnesota Twins closer Matt Capps deep into the right-field bleachers at Chase Field for a grand slam that capped the Diamondbacks rally from down 6-3 and made the score 9–6, which would be the final score.

On July 8, 2011, Johnson hit his second grand slam in the season off St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Lohse. Johnson gave the D-backs the lead in the seventh to break a tie 7–3. He hit a 2-2 pitch into the Cardinals bullpen while thinking that he only hit a sacrifice fly. The ball carried long enough to be a grand slam.

Johnson playing for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011 Kelly Johnson on August 30, 2011.jpg
Johnson playing for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011

Toronto Blue Jays

On August 23, 2011, Johnson was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for second baseman Aaron Hill and shortstop John McDonald. [14] Johnson was set to debut for the Blue Jays on August 24, but had to return to Arizona because he forgot his passport. [15] He made his debut instead on August 25, and went 1 for 2 with 2 walks and a run scored.

Johnson hit his 100th career home run on May 16, 2012. [16]

Johnson playing for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013 Kelly Johnson on April 17, 2013.jpg
Johnson playing for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013

Tampa Bay Rays

In January 2013, the Rays agreed to a one-year contract worth $2.45 million with Johnson. The contract became official on February 5, 2013. [17] Johnson was the Rays Opening Day designated hitter, and throughout the year, he played there, left field, second base, third base, and 3 games at first base. Johnson got 50 starts in left field (the most on the team), splitting time with Matt Joyce and Sean Rodriguez. When he didn't start in left field, he would either come in off the bench, or get a start as a backup at one of the other positions. In 91 at-bats in May, he hit .330 with 7 HR and 26 RBI, and he hit .333 with 4 HR and 9 RBI in July, his only two above-average months. In 118 games in 2013, he hit .235 with 16 HR and 52 RBI. He experienced a severe drop in walks (27 less than 2012) and strikeouts (60 less than 2012), but he also played in 24 fewer games.

Johnson playing for the New York Yankees in 2014 Kelly Johnson on July 11, 2014.jpg
Johnson playing for the New York Yankees in 2014

New York Yankees

In December 2013, Johnson signed a one-year contract with the New York Yankees worth $3 million. [18] [19] In late July, Johnson suffered a groin injury that placed him on the 15-day DL. [20] Johnson was mostly used as a reserve corner infielder with the Yankees, making 56 starts at the two positions. In 77 games with New York, he hit .219/.304/.373 with 6 HR and 22 RBI.

Boston Red Sox

The Yankees traded Johnson to the Boston Red Sox for Stephen Drew on July 31, 2014, which was the first trade between the rival teams since 1997. [21] [22] [23] This trade also reunited Johnson with former Blue Jays manager John Farrell. Johnson played in just 10 games with the Red Sox, hitting 4-25 (.160) with a double and 1 RBI.

Baltimore Orioles

Johnson playing for the Baltimore Orioles in 2014 Kelly Johnson on September 4, 2014.jpg
Johnson playing for the Baltimore Orioles in 2014

The Red Sox traded Johnson to the Baltimore Orioles, along with Michael Almanzar, for Ivan De Jesus Jr. and Jemile Weeks on August 30, 2014. [24] He is the first player to play for every AL East team since MLB switched to six divisions in 1994. [25]

Return to Atlanta Braves

On January 21, 2015, Johnson signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. The deal included an invitation to spring training. [26] [27] On April 4, the team announced that Johnson had made the Opening Day roster. [28] Through his first 28 games with the Braves, Johnson spent most of his playing time at third base and left field. On May 14, 2015, in a game against the Cincinnati Reds, an oblique injury forced Johnson to leave the game after just two pitches in his first and only at bat. He had led the team in home runs at the time with six. He was placed on the DL and remained there until June 10, 2015. After everyday first baseman Freddie Freeman suffered a wrist injury, Johnson often split time at first base with Chris Johnson and Joey Terdoslavich, in addition to playing left field and occasionally at third base.

New York Mets

On July 24, 2015, the Braves traded Johnson and third baseman Juan Uribe, along with cash considerations, to the New York Mets for minor-league pitchers John Gant and Rob Whalen. In his first game as a Met, he hit a single, a double, and a home run in a 15–2 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers. [29] With the Mets, Johnson made his first major-league appearance at shortstop.

Third stint with the Atlanta Braves

On January 8, 2016, Johnson again returned to the Braves, signing a one-year deal worth $2 million. [30]

Second stint with the New York Mets

On June 8, 2016, the Braves traded Johnson to the Mets for minor league pitcher Akeel Morris. [31]

Personal life

Johnson is married to Lauren, [32] [33] with whom he has four children. [34]

In the summer of 2018, Johnson was among the former MLB players who appeared with the Louisville Stars, a tournament team at the Bluegrass World Series.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Every team in a division: Who has done it?". Beyond the Box Score. February 19, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  2. ↑ Seth, Arjun (March 30, 2016). "Where Are They Now: Kelly Johnson". Canyon Echoes. Canyon Vista Middle School. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Johnson wins NL Player of the Week". MLB.com. June 20, 2005.
  4. ↑ "Notes: Chipper looking for power surge". MLB.com. June 1, 2006.
  5. ↑ "Kelly Johnson: 9 Home Runs in Career, batting 1st". Baseball-Reference.com.
  6. ↑ "Notes: Offense remains mired in slump". MLB.com. June 25, 2007.
  7. ↑ "Notes: Possible platoon at second". MLB.com. June 26, 2007.
  8. ↑ "Batting Champ Chipper wants to retire a Braves". AJC.com. September 28, 2008.
  9. ↑ "POTD Kelly Johnson, 2B". seattlesportsinsider.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved October 29, 2009.
  10. ↑ Mark Bowman (December 12, 2009). "Johnson, Church non-tendered by Braves". Major League Baseball. mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
  11. 1 2 3 Gilbert Steve (December 30, 2009). "D-backs secure infielder Johnson". Major League Baseball. mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  12. ↑ "Arizona agrees to 1-year deal with 2B Johnson". usatoday.com. Associated Press. December 30, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
  13. ↑ "Arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com". Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  14. ↑ Nightengale, Bob (August 24, 2011). "Diamondbacks acquire Aaron Hill and John McDonald to help offense". USA Today . Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  15. ↑ Johnson's arrival delayed; Blue Jays recall Mastroianni
  16. ↑ Waldstein, David (May 16, 2012). "Kuroda Yields 7 Runs in Worst Start as Yankee". New York Times. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  17. ↑ Mooney, Roger (February 5, 2013). "Tampa Bay Rays officially sign Farnsworth, Kelly Johnson" . Retrieved February 5, 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  18. ↑ Snyder, Matt (December 4, 2013). "Yankees sign Kelly Johnson to one-year deal in $3M range" . Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  19. ↑ Hoch, Brian (December 6, 2013). "Yanks, Johnson make one-year deal official". MLB.com. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  20. ↑ "New York Yankees: Kelly Johnson Lands on 15-Day DL with Groin Injury". Archived from the original on April 15, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Red Sox trade Stephen Drew to Yankees". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  22. ↑ Marchand, Andrew (August 1, 2014). "Stephen Drew traded to Yankees". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  23. ↑ King, George A. (July 31, 2014). "Just how rare is this Yankees-Red Sox trade?". New York Post. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Baltimore gets Johnson in trade with Boston". ESPN.com. Associated Press. August 30, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  25. ↑ Edes, Gordon (August 30, 2014). "Trade to Orioles completes Kelly Johnson's AL East tour". ESPN Boston.
  26. ↑ Gleeman, Aaron (January 21, 2015). "Braves sign Kelly Johnson". NBC Sportsdate=January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  27. ↑ Bowman, Mark (January 21, 2015). "K. Johnson returns to Braves on Minors deal". MLB.com. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  28. ↑ Bowman, Mark (April 4, 2015). "Johnson thrilled to officially be back with Braves". MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  29. ↑ Sherman, Joel (July 24, 2015). "Offense-needy Mets land Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson from Braves". New York Post. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  30. ↑ Bowman, Mark (January 8, 2016). "Home again: Johnson seals deal with Braves". MLB.com. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  31. ↑ http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/braves-trade-kelly-johnson-to-the-mets-for-pitchin/nrcSx/ [ bare URL ]
  32. ↑ Bowman, Mark (May 3, 2015). "Proud dad Johnson leads Braves' offense". MLB.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  33. ↑ Bowman, Mark (June 19, 2015). "Johnsons balance home life with baseball". Archived from the original on June 22, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  34. ↑ Johnson, Kelly (April 12, 2019). "Atlanta Braves vs New York Mets" (Interview). Interviewed by Chip Caray. SunTrust Park: Fox Sports South.
Kelly Johnson
Kelly Johnson on July 25, 2015.jpg
Johnson with the New York Mets in 2015
Second baseman
Born: (1982-02-22) February 22, 1982 (age 42)
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 29, 2005, for the Atlanta Braves
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 2016, for the New York Mets
Achievements
Preceded by Hitting for the cycle
July 23, 2010		Succeeded by
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