| Reed Johnson | |
|---|---|
 Johnson with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1976-12-08)December 8, 1976 (age 48) Riverside, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 17, 2003, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 3, 2015, for the Washington Nationals | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .279 |
| Home runs | 65 |
| Runs batted in | 408 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Reed Cameron Johnson (born December 8, 1976) is an American former professionalbaseballoutfielder. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theToronto Blue Jays,Chicago Cubs,Los Angeles Dodgers,Atlanta Braves,Miami Marlins, andWashington Nationals.
Johnson was born inRiverside, California and grew up inTemecula, in southernRiverside County. He attendedTemecula Valley High School, where he participated in baseball and soccer. He was an All-League and an All-County selection.
Johnson attended college atCal State Fullerton and was named an Academic All-American. He also set records by being the first Cal State Fullerton player to score 100runs and collect 100hits in a season. In 1998, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theBrewster Whitecaps of theCape Cod Baseball League.[1]
Johnson was drafted by theToronto Blue Jays in the 17th round of the1999 MLB Draft. In the minors, he was aSouthern League All-Star in 2001 with theTennessee Smokies, while hitting .314 with 13 home runs and 74 RBI. Johnson made his Major League debut on April 17, 2003 against theNew York Yankees as apinch runner. He recorded his first major league hit on April 20, 2003 againstBoston Red Sox pitcherCasey Fossum and his first home run on May 17, 2003 againstJeremy Affeldt of theKansas City Royals . He finished his rookie season, with a .294batting average, 10home runs, and 52runs batted in.[2] Johnson also won theAmerican League Rookie of the Month Award for the month of September.[3]
He is one of only five batters, through August 2009, to have hit both a leadoff and walk-off home run in the same game (having done so in 2003), the others beingBilly Hamilton (1893),Victor Power (1957),Darin Erstad (2000), andIan Kinsler (2009).[4]
Johnson extended his tenure with the Blue Jays on December 7, 2005, after signing a one-year extension worth $1,425,000.
At the start the2006 season, Johnson was platooned withFrank Catalanotto inleft field, as they had been for the previous two seasons. In aToronto Star article, Johnson was quoted as saying, "I train so that I can play every day. I don't train to be a fourth outfielder, or there would be a lot less training. I wouldn't be waking up as early. I wouldn't be trying to be in the shape that I'm in. I know my body can take the pounding of an everyday season".[citation needed]
In 2006, Johnson led all leadoff hitters in the American League with a .390 on-base percentage[5] and also had a .319 batting average.
One of Johnson's more dubious honors is his propensity for beinghit by pitches. Consistently among the Blue Jays leaders in being hit, in 2006 Johnson moved pastEd Sprague to take second on the Blue Jays all-time hit by pitch list, trailing onlyCarlos Delgado.[6] He is also one of several players to be hit a major-league record three times in one game; Johnson was hit three times in a game against theTexas Rangers on April 15, 2005. He equaled this feat again on April 7, 2006, against theTampa Bay Devil Rays and then again on April 29, 2006 against the New York Yankees, making Johnson the only player in history to be hit by a pitch three times in one game, three times in his career.[7][8]
In 2008, the Blue Jays acquired veteranMatt Stairs, again relegating Johnson to a platoon role. The Blue Jays signed all-star shortstopDavid Eckstein, and removed Johnson from his familiar role asleadoff hitter. The Blue Jays also signed outfielderShannon Stewart to a minor league contract. Stewart, who played in 855 games for Toronto from1995 to 2003, was a dependable and consistent force at the top of the Blue Jays lineup for many years, although by this point he was considered a liability in the field at times because of an injury suffered playing football, which greatly reduced his throwing strength. His presence atspring training made Johnson's role all the more uncertain. Johnson was released by the Jays on March 23, and replaced by Stewart.
On March 25, he signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs. Johnson platooned in center field withJim Edmonds (as well asFélix Pie to start the season). Johnson "batted in" a game-winning run after he washit by a pitch with the bases loaded on June 12, against theAtlanta Braves.[9] During a crucial game in the2008 season against theMilwaukee Brewers, Johnson executed a perfect hard slide into second base that prevented a double play, and allowed the Cubs to take a one-run lead.[10] When Johnson returned toRogers Centre to play the Toronto Blue Jays on June 13, 2008, he received a long standing ovation from Blue Jays fans.[11]
During a game early in the2009 season, also against the Brewers, Johnson showed versatility on the field by catching aPrince Fielder drive that had cleared the wall, preventing the Brewers from tying the game on a grand slam. He was placed on the 15-day DL on July 30 that same year with a left foot fracture.
On February 1, 2010, Johnson signed a one-year deal with theLos Angeles Dodgers to replaceJuan Pierre as the team's fourth outfielder.[12] He appeared in 102 games with a .262 batting average during the season.
Johnson appears in the opening introduction sequence ofThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno as a Dodger player. As the announcer introduces The Tonight Show, game footage of Johnsonhitting a ball and running tofirst base is seen in the opening sequence; the exact game is not known. The shot of Johnson does not last more than two and a half seconds.
On January 12, 2011, Johnson signed a minor league contract to return to the Cubs organization that included an invitation to spring training.[13]
On April 20, Johnson hit a walk-off homer into the left-field seats offLuke Gregerson to defeat theSan Diego Padres 2-1 in the first game of a doubleheader. In 2011, he batted .309 in 246 at-bats.[14] Through 2011, he had the second-best career fielding percentage (.991) among all active major league left fielders, behindRyan Braun.[15]
On December 21, 2011, Johnson re-signed with the Cubs on a one-year deal.[16]
On July 30, 2012, Johnson was traded along with left-handed pitcherPaul Maholm to theAtlanta Braves for right-handed pitchersArodys Vizcaíno andJaye Chapman.[17][18]
On December 7, 2012, Johnson re-signed with the Atlanta Braves to a 1-year contract.[19]
On January 31, 2014, Johnson signed a minor league contract with theMiami Marlins.[20] On March 30, the Marlins selected Johnson's contract, adding him to their Opening Day roster.[21] He batted .235/.266/.348 with two home runs and 35 RBI in 113 games with the team.[22]
On February 17, 2015, the Marlins re-signed Johnson to another minor league contract.[23] He was released on March 30.[24]
Hours after being released by Miami, Johnson agreed to a minor league contract with theWashington Nationals.[24] He appeared in 17 games for the Nationals in 2015 and hit .227. They re-signed him to a minor league contract after the season. He was released on April 3, 2016.[25]
Growing up, Johnson participated ingymnastics. He resides in Temecula, CA.[citation needed]
