Elliot Johnson (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Elliot Tyler Johnson is a Major League Baseball
second baseman
for the Tampa Bay Rays
.
opening day roster for the season. On April 5, 2008, Johnson made his debut against the New York Yankees
, as the teams designated hitter
. He had four at bats and recorded his first major league hit, a single
.
John Romano of The St. Petersburg Times wrote in March 2011 that he was likely one of three players competing for two spots on the Rays bench, with the other two being outfielder Sam Fuld
and first baseman Casey Kotchman
. Johnson made the opening day roster, along with Fuld.
On May 15th 2011, he hit his first major league home run against Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jake Arrieta.
game involving the New York Yankees
and Tampa Bay Rays
at Steinbrenner Field (formerly Legends Field) in Tampa, Florida
, a ninth inning play at the plate involved Johnson, and Yankee Catching
prospect Francisco Cervelli
. With the Rays already leading the game, Johnson rounded third base as the Yankees threw the ball to home plate in an attempt to tag him out before scoring. Instead of sliding, Johnson decided to collide with Cervelli, in an attempt to knock the ball loose from Cervelli's glove, which caused Cervelli's wrist to fracture. Yankee manager Joe Girardi
believed the play was "uncalled for" and said, "I'm all for playing hard, but I don't think it's the time when you run over a catcher in Spring Training." Rays manager Joe Maddon
called the play "hardball," and that there was nothing at all dirty about the play.
Former Yankee bench coach, and current Rays' Senior Advisor Don Zimmer
disagreed with Girardi's comments, saying
Johnson spoke on the incident saying that he never intended to hurt Cervelli, and that if he was safe on the play, and no one was injured, then it was no big deal.
Johnson proposed to his wife standing between the mound and home plate. They reside in Montgomery with their son Blake.http://www.byucougars.com/Profile.jsp?ID=2789http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=johnso004leo
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
for the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
.
Major league career
Johnson made the Tampa Bay RaysTampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
opening day roster for the season. On April 5, 2008, Johnson made his debut against 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...
, as the teams designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
. He had four at bats and recorded his first major league hit, a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
.
John Romano of The St. Petersburg Times wrote in March 2011 that he was likely one of three players competing for two spots on the Rays bench, with the other two being outfielder Sam Fuld
Sam Fuld
Samuel Babson "Sam" Fuld is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball....
and first baseman Casey Kotchman
Casey Kotchman
Casey John Kotchman is an American Major League Baseball first baseman.-High school:He was on the 2001 national champion team of Seminole High School in Seminole, Florida.-Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim:...
. Johnson made the opening day roster, along with Fuld.
On May 15th 2011, he hit his first major league home run against Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jake Arrieta.
Controversy
On March 8, 2008, in a 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...
game involving 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...
and Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
at Steinbrenner Field (formerly Legends Field) in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, a ninth inning play at the plate involved Johnson, and Yankee Catching
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...
prospect Francisco Cervelli
Francisco Cervelli
Francisco Cervelli is a Major League Baseball catcher for the New York Yankees. He was an international signee by the Yankees in and played in the 2009 World Baseball Classic for the Italian team. He is Hispanic of Italian descent...
. With the Rays already leading the game, Johnson rounded third base as the Yankees threw the ball to home plate in an attempt to tag him out before scoring. Instead of sliding, Johnson decided to collide with Cervelli, in an attempt to knock the ball loose from Cervelli's glove, which caused Cervelli's wrist to fracture. Yankee manager Joe Girardi
Joe Girardi
Joseph Elliott Girardi is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager of the New York Yankees. During a 15-year playing career, he played from 1989–2003 for the Chicago Cubs, the Colorado Rockies, the New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals...
believed the play was "uncalled for" and said, "I'm all for playing hard, but I don't think it's the time when you run over a catcher in Spring Training." Rays manager Joe Maddon
Joe Maddon
Joseph John Maddon is the Major League Baseball manager for the Tampa Bay Rays.He previously served as interim manager of the Anaheim Angels in both 1996 and 1999. He was also a long-time bench coach for the team.-Early life and career:Maddon attended Lafayette College, where he played baseball...
called the play "hardball," and that there was nothing at all dirty about the play.
Former Yankee bench coach, and current Rays' Senior Advisor Don Zimmer
Don Zimmer
Donald William "Popeye" Zimmer is a former infielder, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball, currently serving as a senior advisor to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball organization...
disagreed with Girardi's comments, saying
I am surprised the way Girardi said what he did. The plate was blocked, and our guy bowled him over. That's the way to play the game. I mean, I'm talking about a guy who is like a son to me. But I can't believe he went after it the way he did, because
that's not Joe Girardi – and being a catcher on top of that.
Johnson spoke on the incident saying that he never intended to hurt Cervelli, and that if he was safe on the play, and no one was injured, then it was no big deal.
Family
Johnson has 4 brothers three of which got drafted but then dropped. Leon Johnson, who played for the AZL Cubs as a pitcher and outfielder in 2007 and 2008.Cedric Johnson who is going to play for Dixie State this fall. And Lucas Johnson who is a teacher and baseball coach for their home town. They also have one sister.Johnson proposed to his wife standing between the mound and home plate. They reside in Montgomery with their son Blake.http://www.byucougars.com/Profile.jsp?ID=2789http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=johnso004leo