| Jim Johnson | |
|---|---|
 Johnson with the Atlanta Braves in 2015 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1983-06-27)June 27, 1983 (age 42) Johnson City, New York, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 29, 2006, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 29, 2018, for the Los Angeles Angels | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 38–46 |
| Earned run average | 3.79 |
| Strikeouts | 531 |
| Saves | 178 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
James Robert Johnson (born June 27, 1983) is an American former professionalbaseballrelief pitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theBaltimore Orioles,Oakland Athletics,Detroit Tigers,Atlanta Braves,Los Angeles Dodgers, andLos Angeles Angels. Johnson was anAll-Star in 2012 and won theRolaids Relief Man Award that year while leading MLB insaves. In 2013, Johnson became the first American League (AL) pitcher ever to have recorded back-to-back seasons of 50 saves or more. Johnson andÉric Gagné are the only two MLB pitchers to accomplish this feat.
Johnson was born inJohnson City, New York. He was raised inEndicott, New York, and graduated fromUnion Endicott High School in 2001.
TheBaltimore Orioles drafted Johnson in the fifth round (143rd overall) of the2001 MLB draft.[1] He made his major league debut on July 29, 2006, against theChicago White Sox, allowing eight earned runs in three innings for the loss.[2] In 2007, he again only made one Major League appearance.[3]
Johnson began the 2008 season in theTriple-ANorfolk Tidesstarting rotation, but was called up to the Orioles on April 12.[4] Pitching middle and laterelief, he ran up 18 consecutive scoreless innings before giving up a 10th inning run toOakland on May 5.[5] He became the interimcloser whenGeorge Sherrill went on the disabled list on August 19, 2008.[6] Johnson finished the season 2–4 with one save and a 2.23 ERA in 54 games.[3]
Johnson was given the closer role on July 30, 2009, when Sherrill was traded to theLos Angeles Dodgers.[7] He finished with 10 saves, but his ERA rose higher, finishing at 4.11 in 70 innings of relief.[3] In the 2010 season, he returned to a setup role. Late in the 2011 season, Johnson won the closer role fromKevin Gregg.[8]
On January 16, 2012, Johnson signed a one-year deal worth $2.625 million, avoiding arbitration.[9] He won theDelivery Man of the Month Award for May 2012.[10] On July 1, 2012, Johnson was one of three Orioles selected to play in the2012 All Star Game.[11] On September 21, 2012, Johnson set the Orioles' all-time single season save record at 46, passingRandy Myers.[12] Johnson recorded his 50th save of the season on September 30 during a victory over theBoston Red Sox. With the win, Baltimore clinched a postseason berth, and Johnson became the 10th pitcher in MLB history to record 50 saves or more.[13] He finished the season with 51 saves.[3] He won the ALRolaids Relief Man Award.[14]
Johnson had a mediocre postseason debut through four games in the2012 American League Division Series against theNew York Yankees. Johnson struggled in Game 1 of the series atCamden Yards, entering in the ninth inning of a 2–2 game and surrendering five runs (four earned) in only1⁄3 of an inning. The Yankees won, 7–2.[15] He gained redemption in Game 2, pitching a perfect ninth inning to preserve a 3–2 advantage, striking outAlex Rodriguez on a 3–2 count to end the game.[16] Johnson pitched again in Game 3 in theBronx and surrendered a game-tying home run toRaúl Ibañez with one out in the ninth inning. (Ibañez would also win the game on a homer in the 12th off ofBrian Matusz.)[17] Johnson earned a successful save in game four, working a scoreless 13th inning.[18]
Johnson recorded his 100th career save against the New York Yankees on June 30, 2013.[19]
On December 2, 2013, Johnson was traded to theOakland Athletics for infielderJemile Weeks and aplayer to be named later, identified asDavid Freitas on December 12. The deal was considered to be a salary dump by the Orioles, since Johnson was projected to make $10.8 million in baseballarbitration, according to MLB Trade Rumors. His 2014 salary wound up being $10 million.[20] Johnson's first season with the A's began poorly, as he earned a blown save and two losses in his first two appearances with the club. After five appearances and an ERA of 18.90, Johnson was pulled from the closer role on April 11, in favor of fellow relievers such asLuke Gregerson andSean Doolittle.[21] Johnson was designated for assignment on July 24,[22] and released by the club on August 1.[23] In 38 games with Oakland, he was 4–2 with two saves and a 7.14 ERA.[3]
On August 5, 2014, Johnson signed a minor-league contract with theDetroit Tigers.[24] On August 16, the Tigers called up Johnson to the main roster. To make room on the 25-man roster, the Tigers optionedMelvin Mercedes back to Triple-A Toledo, and to make room on the 40-man roster, the Tigers designatedKevin Whelan for assignment.[25] Johnson made his debut for the Tigers on August 17 against theSeattle Mariners, coming in to pitch the sixth inning and allowing two hits, three runs, one walk, and one strikeout in2⁄3 innings.[26] In 16 games with the Tigers, he was 1–0 with a 6.92 ERA.[3]
On December 3, 2014, Johnson signed a one–year contract worth $1.6 million with theAtlanta Braves.[27] Johnson, who had been the set-up man for most of the year, was called on to be the closer afterJason Grilli was injured on July 11, two days before theAll-Star break.[28] In 49 games, he was 2–3 with nine saves and a 2.25 ERA.[3]
On July 30, 2015, in a three-team trade, theLos Angeles Dodgers acquired Johnson,Mat Latos,Michael Morse,Bronson Arroyo,Alex Wood,Luis Avilán, andJosé Peraza, while theMiami Marlins acquired minor league pitchers Victor Araujo,Jeff Brigham, and Kevin Guzman, and the Braves receivedHéctor Olivera,Paco Rodriguez, minor league pitcher Zachary Bird and a competitive balance draft pick for the2016 MLB draft.[29] He struggled with the Dodgers, going 0–3 while allowing 22 runs in18+2⁄3 innings (10.13 ERA).[30] He did not make the postseason roster and the Dodgers designated him for assignment on October 14, 2015.[31]
On November 30, 2015, Johnson signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal to return to the Braves.[32] For the final week of July 2016, Johnson earned NL Player of the Week honors.[33][34] He finished the 2016 season with a 2–6 record, 20 saves and 3.06 ERA, his lowest since 2013, in 65 games.[3]
Johnson then signed a two-year extension on October 2, 2016.[35] He struggled the following season with the Braves, going 6–5 with 22 saves and a 5.56 ERA.[3] He also recorded nine blown saves.[36]
On November 30, 2017, the Braves traded Johnson and $1.21 million in international bonus signing cash to theLos Angeles Angels in return for minor league pitcher Justin Kelly.[37] In his first season with the Angels, Johnson appeared in 62 games, going 5–3 with two saves while registering an ERA of 3.84 in63+1⁄3 innings.[3] He elected free agency on October 29, 2018.
Johnson throws four pitches, leading with a hardsinker averaging 95 miles per hour (153 km/h). His main off-speed pitch to right-handed hitters is acurveball averaging about 80 miles per hour (130 km/h). Against lefties, Johnson adds an upper-80schangeup. Lastly, he throws an occasionalfour-seam fastball in the mid 90s.[38]
