Jason Johnson (baseball)

Template:Short description Template:Other people Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox baseball biography Jason Michael Johnson (born October 27, 1973) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He throws and bats right-handed.

Career

Johnson graduated from Conner High School in Hebron, Kentucky.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He did not enter college, but was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an undrafted free agent in Template:Baseball year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He made his major league debut with the Pirates in 1997, appearing in only three games. Following the season, he was selected in the 1997 Expansion Draft by the newly created franchise, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In his lone season in Tampa Bay, Johnson went 2–5 in 13 starts. He was traded to the Baltimore Orioles before the 1999 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> From 1999 to 2003, Johnson was with the Baltimore Orioles, 2001 being his best season of his career, going 10–12 with a career low 4.09 ERA. In Template:Baseball year, he received the Tony Conigliaro Award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Johnson signed a two-year deal with the Detroit Tigers prior to the 2004 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In his first season with Detroit, Johnson posted his worst season as a full-time starter, going 8–15 with an ERA of 5.13 in 196+ innings. On June 8, Template:Baseball year, Johnson became the first Tigers pitcher to hit a home run in a regular season game since Les Cain in Template:Baseball year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The homer came against Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jeff Weaver, at Dodger Stadium. Despite finishing the season 8–13, Johnson lowered his ERA from the previous season and pitched in a career high 210 innings while posting his lowest K/9 of his career, striking out just 93 while inducing 49 walks.

Johnson signed with Cleveland prior to the Template:Baseball year season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He fared no better there, going 3–8 with a 5.96 ERA. He was designated for assignment on June 22, 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Before he decided whether or not to accept the assignment, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox for cash.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Boston, his time as a member of the Red Sox was disastrous, going 0–4 with a 7.36 ERA. On August 18, 2006, Johnson was designated for assignment by the Red Sox.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He quickly signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He signed an incentive-laden, one-year, $3 million contract with the Seibu Lions for the Template:Baseball year season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He pitched one season in Japan, then on February 7, Template:Baseball year, signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He failed to make the Dodgers opening day roster and was assigned to the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s. On July 18 the Dodgers added him to the 25-man roster.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He finished the season with them, going 1–2 with an ERA of 5.22. On January 6, Template:Baseball year, he signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the New York Yankees, where he was expected to compete for the final spot in the starting rotation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, before reporting to spring training, Johnson was diagnosed with choroidal melanoma in his right retina.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He began the season in Triple-A Scranton, but suffered a labrum tear in his shoulder.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On August 10, 2009, he was released by the Yankees.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He last played for the Amarillo Sox in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Johnson has type 1 diabetes and was the first Major League Baseball player to get permission to wear an insulin pump on the field. He wore the pump on his belt on the left side of his lower back, in order to minimize the chance of it being hit by a bat or thrown ball.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

External links

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