American baseball player
Baseball player
Steven David Johnson
(born August 31, 1987) is an American former professional
baseball
pitcher
. He made his
Major League Baseball
(MLB) debut with the
Baltimore Orioles
in 2012 and also played in MLB for the
Seattle Mariners
.
Early life
[
edit
]
Steve Johnson was born to Dave and Tera Johnson.
[1]
His father,
Dave Johnson
, pitched in MLB for five seasons, including three for Baltimore, and is now a broadcaster on
MASN
, which airs Orioles and
Nationals
games.
[2]
Johnson graduated from
St. Paul's School
in 2005 where he played baseball.
[3]
Professional career
[
edit
]
Los Angeles Dodgers
[
edit
]
Johnson was drafted by the
Los Angeles Dodgers
in the 13th round of the
2005 MLB Draft
out of
St. Paul's School for Boys
in
Brooklandville, Maryland
. He pitched for the
GCL Dodgers
in 2005, going 0?2 with a 9.53 ERA in six games (three starts). He split 2006 between the
Ogden Raptors
(14 starts) and
Jacksonville Suns
(two relief appearances), going a combined 5?5 with a 3.67 ERA. In 2007, he went 3?6 with a 4.85 ERA in 18 games (16 starts) for the
Great Lakes Loons
.
Johnson split 2008 between the Loons (13 starts) and
Inland Empire 66ers
(11 starts), going a combined 12?8 with a 4.32 ERA. He started the 2009 season in the Dodgers' organization, pitching for the 66ers (18 games, 16 starts) and
Chattanooga Lookouts
(two starts).
Baltimore Orioles
[
edit
]
On July 30, he was traded with minor leaguer
Josh Bell
to the
Baltimore Orioles
for
George Sherrill
.
[4]
He finished the season with the
Bowie Baysox
. Overall, he went a combined 12?7 with a 3.41 ERA in 27 games (25 starts).
The
San Francisco Giants
selected him in the 2009
Rule 5 Draft
,
[5]
but he was returned to the Orioles on March 16, 2010.
[6]
Johnson had his contract purchased by the Orioles on June 3, 2012, but was immediately optioned to the Triple-A
Norfolk Tides
. He was called up to the major leagues for the first time on July 1, 2012, in Seattle, but did not play in the two games before he was optioned down again. He finally made his major league debut on July 15, 2012 against the
Detroit Tigers
in Baltimore. On August 8, 2012, he started and won his first game against the
Seattle Mariners
, 23 years to the day after his father pitched his first victory for the Orioles.
On April 24, 2013, Johnson was sent to the Norfolk Tides on a rehab assignment. He was brought up to the Orioles on May 11 to start against the
Minnesota Twins
, and optioned back to Norfolk the next day.
[7]
He was recalled on May 25 when
Pedro Strop
was placed on the disabled list.
[8]
Johnson was outrighted off the Orioles roster on October 24, 2014. He elected free agency following the season on November 3.
On January 27, 2015, Johnson re-signed with the Orioles on a new minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training. He was added back to the Orioles roster on September 1, 2015. He was non-tendered and became a free agent on December 2.
Texas Rangers
[
edit
]
On January 29, 2016, Johnson signed a minor league contract with the
Texas Rangers
, with an invitation to Spring Training.
[9]
He was released on March 14.
[10]
Seattle Mariners
[
edit
]
On March 17, 2016, Johnson signed a minor league contract with the
Seattle Mariners
. He had his contract selected to the major league roster on May 3. He was designated for assignment on June 17, he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A
Tacoma Rainiers
on June 19. He elected free agency after the season on October 15.
Baltimore Orioles (second stint)
[
edit
]
On March 4, 2017, Johnson signed a minor league contract with the
Baltimore Orioles
organization.
Chicago White Sox
[
edit
]
On August 9, 2017, the Orioles traded Johnson to the
Chicago White Sox
for cash considerations. In 5 starts for the Triple?A
Charlotte Knights
, Johnson struggled to an 8.44 ERA with 21 strikeouts in
21
+
1
⁄
3
innings of work. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.
[11]
Lancaster Barnstormers
[
edit
]
On April 2, 2018, Johnson signed with the
Lancaster Barnstormers
of the
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
.
[12]
He announced his retirement as an active player via social media on December 22, 2018.
[13]
He made 11 starts throwing 54.2 innings going 3-5 with a 5.10 ERA and 46 strikeouts.
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Justice, Richard.
"FROM MINORS AND MOBILE HOMES, JOHNSON FINALLY MAKES MAJOR MOVE"
.
Washington Post
. Retrieved
12 April
2021
.
- ^
"Baltimore Sun: Baltimore breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and traffic"
. 3 July 2012.
- ^
Joyner, Jim (30 November 2012).
"Orioles pitcher Johnson back on the home field at St. Paul's School"
.
The Baltimore Sun
. Retrieved
12 April
2021
.
- ^
Transaction page
- ^
Article
- ^
RHP Steve Johnson returned to Orioles
- ^
"Baltimore Orioles options RHP Steve Johnson to Triple-A"
. May 11, 2013
. Retrieved
May 12,
2013
.
- ^
"Orioles place reliever Pedro Strop on 15-day disabled list, recall Steve Johnson"
.
Baltimore Sun
. May 25, 2013
. Retrieved
May 25,
2013
.
- ^
"Rangers sign Steve Johnson"
. Dallas Morning News. 29 January 2016
. Retrieved
January 30,
2016
.
- ^
"Major League Baseball Transactions in March 2016"
.
MLB.com
. Retrieved
March 24,
2016
.
- ^
"Minor League Free Agents 2017"
.
baseballamerica.com
. 7 November 2017
. Retrieved
June 25,
2023
.
- ^
"Barnstormers Sign Former O's Hurler"
.
Lancaster Barnstormers
. 2 April 2018
. Retrieved
April 2,
2018
.
- ^
Steve Johnson's official retirement announcement via Instagram.
Retrieved December 22, 2018
External links
[
edit
]