Rob Johnson (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Robert James "Rob" Johnson (born July 22, 1982) is an American
professional baseball
catcher
who is a free agent. Born in Anaconda, Montana
, he played Little League in Whitehall
.
Johnson attended Saddleback College
, Mission Viejo, California
, and was named MVP of the Orange Empire League in . In 2003, he attended the University of Houston
for one season, before he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 4th round (123rd overall) of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
.
Bill Bavasi
promoted Johnson to the Triple-A level Tacoma Rainiers
at the start of the . After the free agent
signing of Japanese baseball star catcher Kenji Johjima
and the selection of USC
slugging catcher Jeff Clement
, Johnson moved down the Mariners organizational depth chart.
team captain.
Johnson made his Major League Debut on September 4, , and played sparingly for the rest of the campaign with the Mariners. He had 1 hit
(his first in MLB) in 3 at-bats for a career batting average
of .332, Johnson also stole
a base during his callup in which he appeared in 6 games.
of the Oakland Athletics
in a game on September 27 at Safeco Field
. He played in the Arizona Fall League
after the season.
it was thought that catcher Jeff Clement
would be the back-up catcher and designated hitter on the opening day roster. However, with the signing of the left-handed hitting Ken Griffey, Jr.
, Clement would be have little playing time at the designated hitter position. This left the door open for Johnson on the opening day roster.
In 2009 Johnson cracked the opening day roster with the Mariners for the first time in his career. Primarily used as a back-up catcher in the beginning on the season, Johnson later became the a starter due to his good rapport with the Mariners' pitching staff and an early season injury to primary catcher Kenji Johjima. When Johjima was activated from the disabled list Johnson again became the back-up catcher. However, Johjima again went on the disabled list in late-May and Johnson became the primary catcher again. Mariners manager
Don Wakamatsu
stated that Johnson handled the pitching staff better than Johjima.
On June 13, Johnson was placed on the bereavement list to respond to a "family emergency." On June 19, Johnson was activated for the bereavement list.
In a 7-6 Mariners win over the Boston Red Sox
, Johnson tied a club record with three doubles in one game on July 3. His third double of the game became the decisive hit as it scored the winning run for the Mariners in the top of the 11th inning in Fenway Park
.
At seasons end it was reported that Johnson would undergo three surgeries, the first on his left hip, the second on his right hip and the third on his left wrist. He is expected to make a recovery in time for spring training
. Johnson's hip ailments were detected during an MRI
exam on October 5 in Seattle, Washington
. It is a similar injury sustained by the New York Yankees
third baseman
Alex Rodriguez
.
on August 3, where he hit .297/.403/.453 in 19 games. On December 13, Rob was designated for assignment by the club and was claimed by the San Diego Padres
on December 21. In return, the Mariners will receive cash considerations or a player to be named later.
, where Johnson attended Butte Central Catholic High School
(graduated 2001) and played for the local American Legion team (Montana is the only state to not include baseball on a High School level). He worked on his family ranch through his junior
year in high school.
He currently resides in San Diego, California
with his wife Kristan. The couple have two children. Johnson and his wife were married in Houston, TX in November 2006.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
who is a free agent. Born in Anaconda, Montana
Anaconda, Montana
Anaconda, county seat of Anaconda City/Deer Lodge County, is located in mountainous southwestern Montana. The Continental Divide passes within 8 miles of the community with the local Pintler Mountain range reaching 10,379 feet...
, he played Little League in Whitehall
Whitehall, Montana
Whitehall is a town in Jefferson County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,044 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Helena Micropolitan Statistical Area.Newscaster Chet Huntley graduated from Whitehall High School in 1929.-Geography:...
.
Johnson attended Saddleback College
Saddleback College
The athletic programs are supported in part by the Associated Student Body at Saddleback College. Revenue generated from attendance at athletic events helps support the entire student activities program.-On-campus media outlets:*The Lariat...
, Mission Viejo, California
Mission Viejo, California
Mission Viejo is a city located in southern Orange County, California, U.S. in the Saddleback Valley. Mission Viejo is considered one of the largest master-planned communities ever built under a single project in the United States, and is rivaled only by Highlands Ranch, Colorado, in its size...
, and was named MVP of the Orange Empire League in . In 2003, he attended the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
for one season, before he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 4th round (123rd overall) of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
.
2006 season
Following a breakout season, Seattle Mariners General ManagerGeneral manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Bill Bavasi
Bill Bavasi
William J. Bavasi, born December 27, 1957 in Scarsdale, New York, is a former general manager and vice president of baseball operations for the Seattle Mariners, and currently works as a Special Assistant to the GM for the Cincinnati Reds, under Reds GM Walt Jocketty...
promoted Johnson to the Triple-A level Tacoma Rainiers
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
at the start of the . After the free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
signing of Japanese baseball star catcher Kenji Johjima
Kenji Johjima
is a Japanese catcher who is currently playing for the Hanshin Tigers. He played in Major League Baseball for four years with the Seattle Mariners in the American League....
and the selection of USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
slugging catcher Jeff Clement
Jeff Clement
Jeffrey Burton Clement is a Major League Baseball first baseman who is currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization. Clement was the Seattle Mariners' first round draft pick in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft.-Amateur career:Clement was born and raised in Marshalltown, Iowa...
, Johnson moved down the Mariners organizational depth chart.
2007 season
In , he was named the Tacoma RainiersTacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
team captain.
Johnson made his Major League Debut on September 4, , and played sparingly for the rest of the campaign with the Mariners. He had 1 hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(his first in MLB) in 3 at-bats for a career batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .332, Johnson also stole
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
a base during his callup in which he appeared in 6 games.
2008 season
Johnson was recalled to Seattle for the final month of the season when the rosters expanded from 25 to 40 for the month of September during which he hit his first major league home run, a two run blast off of Jerry BlevinsJerry Blevins
Jerry Richard Blevins is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball.-College baseball career:...
of the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in a game on September 27 at Safeco Field
Safeco Field
Safeco Field is a retractable roof baseball stadium located in Seattle, Washington. The stadium, owned and operated by the Washington-King County Stadium Authority, is the home stadium of the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball and has a seating capacity of 47,878 for baseball...
. He played in the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
after the season.
2009 season
Going into spring trainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
it was thought that catcher Jeff Clement
Jeff Clement
Jeffrey Burton Clement is a Major League Baseball first baseman who is currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization. Clement was the Seattle Mariners' first round draft pick in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft.-Amateur career:Clement was born and raised in Marshalltown, Iowa...
would be the back-up catcher and designated hitter on the opening day roster. However, with the signing of the left-handed hitting Ken Griffey, Jr.
Ken Griffey, Jr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey, Jr. , nicknamed "Junior" and "The Kid", is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and during his final years, designated hitter...
, Clement would be have little playing time at the designated hitter position. This left the door open for Johnson on the opening day roster.
In 2009 Johnson cracked the opening day roster with the Mariners for the first time in his career. Primarily used as a back-up catcher in the beginning on the season, Johnson later became the a starter due to his good rapport with the Mariners' pitching staff and an early season injury to primary catcher Kenji Johjima. When Johjima was activated from the disabled list Johnson again became the back-up catcher. However, Johjima again went on the disabled list in late-May and Johnson became the primary catcher again. Mariners manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Don Wakamatsu
Don Wakamatsu
Wilbur Donald "Don" Wakamatsu is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager. He was the manager of the Seattle Mariners for the season, as well as the majority of the season...
stated that Johnson handled the pitching staff better than Johjima.
On June 13, Johnson was placed on the bereavement list to respond to a "family emergency." On June 19, Johnson was activated for the bereavement list.
In a 7-6 Mariners win over the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, Johnson tied a club record with three doubles in one game on July 3. His third double of the game became the decisive hit as it scored the winning run for the Mariners in the top of the 11th inning in Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
.
At seasons end it was reported that Johnson would undergo three surgeries, the first on his left hip, the second on his right hip and the third on his left wrist. He is expected to make a recovery in time for spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. Johnson's hip ailments were detected during an MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance imaging , or magnetic resonance tomography is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to visualize detailed internal structures...
exam on October 5 in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. It is a similar injury sustained by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
.
2010 Season
Johnson's 2010 season was a disappointment, hitting .191/.293/.281 in 61 games for the Mariners. He was demoted to the AAA Tacoma RainiersTacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
on August 3, where he hit .297/.403/.453 in 19 games. On December 13, Rob was designated for assignment by the club and was claimed by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
on December 21. In return, the Mariners will receive cash considerations or a player to be named later.
Personal life
When he was in the fifth grade the family moved to ButteButte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
, where Johnson attended Butte Central Catholic High School
Butte Central Catholic High School
Butte Central Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Butte, Montana. It is one of two high schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena, the other being Loyola Sacred Heart in Missoula...
(graduated 2001) and played for the local American Legion team (Montana is the only state to not include baseball on a High School level). He worked on his family ranch through his junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
year in high school.
He currently resides in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
with his wife Kristan. The couple have two children. Johnson and his wife were married in Houston, TX in November 2006.