Daniel Johnson (baseball)


Daniel Johnson Jr. is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball.

Professional career

Washington Nationals

Drafted out of New Mexico State University in the fifth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft by the Nationals, Johnson was a star center fielder for the Aggies, demonstrating great speed, a strong arm, and the ability to hit for both average and power in his time in collegiate baseball. In his first professional season, Johnson hit.265 with a home run and 14 RBIs over 62 games for the Auburn Doubledays. The Nationals reportedly believed in Johnson's potential not just to stick in center field at higher professional levels, but to produce double-digit home runs as he developed.
Johnson was assigned to the Hagerstown Suns, a step above Auburn in the Nationals' farm system, for the 2017 season. Almost right away, Johnson demonstrated significantly greater power and hitting ability with the Suns, hitting 10 home runs by the end of May and posting a batting average above.300. Johnson's prowess earned him a spot on the South Atlantic League's Northern Division All-Star team, alongside teammates like Carter Kieboom, the Nationals' top draft pick in 2016. On July 24, 2017, he was promoted to the Advanced-A Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League. A midseason ranking of prospects by MLB Pipeline that month placed Johnson as the Nationals' tenth-best prospect. Johnson finished the 2017 season with a.298 batting average, 22 home runs, and 22 stolen bases across both levels, appearing in 130 total games. He was named the Nationals' Minor League Player of the Year for 2017.

Cleveland Indians

On November 30, 2018, Johnson was traded to the Cleveland Indians, along with Jefry Rodríguez and a player to be named later, for Yan Gomes. He began 2019 with the Double-A Akron RubberDucks. Johnson was promoted to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers on May 25, 2019. Johnson was named to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.
Johnson was added to the Indians' 40–man roster following the 2019 season. He made the Indians' Opening Day roster for the 2020 season. Johnson made his major league debut on July 25, going hitless in 3 at-bats.