Kelly Johnson, Utility Player


Date of Birth: 2/22/1982
Birthplace: Austin, Texas

Kelly Johnson, utility player, was first drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2000 and he joined the team in 2005. He played in the outfield that first year, replacing injured regulars in the line-up. Johnson ended his first season with the Braves with a batting average of .241 with 9 home runs in 290 at bats.

Johnson's second season in the majors, 2006, was spent on the disabled list, recovering from an elbow injury and Tommy John surgery. Johnson returned in 2007 as the Braves leadoff hitter and regular second baseman. After a slow start, Johnson was replaced as the leadoff hitter but he ended the 2007 season with a decent .276 batting average, with 16 home runs and 26 doubles.

In 2008, Johnson hit in 22 straight games, the NL record for the longest hitting streak for any player. In September of that year, he batted .398 with 19 RBIs in just 25 games. However, Johnson's best year was probably 2010 when he batted .284, with 166 hits, 36 doubles, and 26 home runs. In April of that season, he was named NL Player of the Month for his .313 batting average and nine home runs and 18 RBIs for the month.

In 2009, after he went on the disabled list, Johnson lost his second base starting position to Martin Prado. After the season ended, he signed a one year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Johnson played with the D-Backs until they traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays at the end of August, 2011. In February of 2012, Johnson signed a one year contract with the Rays. He became a free agent after the 2013 season and in December, 2013, Johnson signed a one year, $3 million contract with the New York Yankees.

On July 31, 2014, Johnson was traded to the Boston Red Sox. After a month with the Red Sox, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on August 30, 2014. The trade put Johnson in the unique position of having played for all five teams in the American League East division.

Johnson finished the 2014 season with 57 hits, 14 doubles, and a .215 batting average in 77 games with the Yankees, 10 games with the Red Sox, and 19 games with the Orioles.

On January 21, 2015, Johnson agreed to return to the Braves on a minor league contract. He was traded to the New York Mets on July 24, 2015. He finished the 2015 season with 82 hits, 14 home runs, 47 RBIs, and a .265 batting average in 62 games with the Braves and 49 games with the Mets. Defensively, he played all field positions except for center field. In the postseason, he had one hit in nine at-bats in nine games.

Johnson signed with the Braves again on January 8, 2016. He went back to the Mets in a June 8, 2016, trade. He finished the 2016 season with a .247 batting average, 75 hits, 14 doubles, 10 home runs, and 34 RBIs in 49 games with the Braves and 82 games with the Mets. Defensively, he played 3 games at first base, 52 games at second base, 21 games at third base, 1 game at shortstop, and 15 games in left field.

Johnson became a free agent on November 3, 2016. He hasn't played professional baseball since 2016.

Career batting statistics for Johnson through 2016 include:

  • 1,399 games played
  • 1,140 hits
  • 230 doubles
  • 155 home runs
  • 87 stolen bases
  • 550 RBIs
  • 1,145 strikeouts to 516 walks
  • .251 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Johnson at second base through 2016 include:

  • 894 games played
  • 2,365 assists
  • 555 double plays
  • 1,532 putouts
  • 76 errors
  • .981 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Kelly Johnson
ESPN - Kelly Johnson