Jonathan Johnson (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Kent Johnson is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played for six seasons. He played for the Texas Rangers
from 1998 to 2001, the San Diego Padres
in 2002, and the Houston Astros
in 2003.
. In his senior year, he committed to playing college baseball
at Florida State University
and was considered to be "clearly the most dominant pitcher" in his region. After graduating from high school, he spent three seasons with the Florida State Seminoles baseball
team.
In his freshmen season, Johnson finished the year with a 10-1 record, a 1.68 earned run average
(ERA), and 124 strikeout
s in 107⅓ innings pitched
. He was named Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC) Rookie of the Year and was named to Baseball America's All-Freshman team. The following year, Johnson finished his sophomore season with a 12-1 record and 137 strikeouts, and earned third team All-America and second team All-ACC honors. Johnson also played in the 1994 College World Series
, pitching against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball
team. In his junior year, Johnson finished the season with a 12-3 record, leading Florida State to the ACC Championship. He also participated in the 1995 College World Series
, and was a finalist for the 1995 Golden Spikes Award
, as well as being a Baseball America first team All-American.
Johnson was admitted to the Florida State University Hall of Fame in 2006.
in the first round of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft
, and signed with the team on July 18. He spent the next few seasons in the minor leagues until he made his debut on September 27, 1998, making the start and allowing four earned runs in 4⅓ innings. He made one more appearance in 1999, then in 2000 he pitched in 15 games for the Rangers, finishing the season with a 1-1 record and a 6.21 ERA. After starting the 2001 season with the Rangers, he was sent to the Arizona Diamondbacks
, but did not play a game for the team.
After two seasons of play, one with the San Diego Padres
and one with the Houston Astros
, Johnson retired. In 2006, he was signed by the Atlanta Braves
and joined their minor league system, hoping to make a major league comeback. He spent two seasons with the Richmond Braves
before being released.
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...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who played for six seasons. He played for the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
from 1998 to 2001, 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...
in 2002, and the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in 2003.
High school and college career
Johnson attended high school at Forest High School in Ocala, FloridaOcala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
. In his senior year, he committed to playing college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
and was considered to be "clearly the most dominant pitcher" in his region. After graduating from high school, he spent three seasons with the Florida State Seminoles baseball
Florida State Seminoles baseball
The Florida State Seminoles baseball team represents Florida State University in NCAA Division I college baseball and are one of the most successful collegiate baseball programs in the United States without a College World Series championship....
team.
In his freshmen season, Johnson finished the year with a 10-1 record, a 1.68 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(ERA), and 124 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 107⅓ innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. He was named Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
(ACC) Rookie of the Year and was named to Baseball America's All-Freshman team. The following year, Johnson finished his sophomore season with a 12-1 record and 137 strikeouts, and earned third team All-America and second team All-ACC honors. Johnson also played in the 1994 College World Series
1994 College World Series
The 1994 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 3 to June 11. The forty-eighth tournament's champion was the University of Oklahoma, coached by Larry Cochell...
, pitching against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other Georgia Tech athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Atlantic Coast Conference...
team. In his junior year, Johnson finished the season with a 12-3 record, leading Florida State to the ACC Championship. He also participated in the 1995 College World Series
1995 College World Series
The 1995 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 2 to June 10. The forty-ninth tournament's champion was California State University, Fullerton, coached by Augie Garrido...
, and was a finalist for the 1995 Golden Spikes Award
Golden Spikes Award
The Golden Spikes Award is awarded annually to the best amateur baseball player. It is awarded by USA Baseball and sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Association. Though the award can be presented to any amateur player, it has always been given to a college baseball player.-Past...
, as well as being a Baseball America first team All-American.
Johnson was admitted to the Florida State University Hall of Fame in 2006.
Professional career
Johnson was drafted by the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in the first round of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft
1995 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign-Background:Outfielder Darin Erstad of the University of Nebraska was the first pick in the 1995 Rule 4 Draft. Erstad compiled a career .356 average in three seasons with the...
, and signed with the team on July 18. He spent the next few seasons in the minor leagues until he made his debut on September 27, 1998, making the start and allowing four earned runs in 4⅓ innings. He made one more appearance in 1999, then in 2000 he pitched in 15 games for the Rangers, finishing the season with a 1-1 record and a 6.21 ERA. After starting the 2001 season with the Rangers, he was sent to the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
, but did not play a game for the team.
After two seasons of play, one with 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...
and one with the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, Johnson retired. In 2006, he was signed by the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and joined their minor league system, hoping to make a major league comeback. He spent two seasons with the Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
before being released.