Elliot Johnson (baseball)
Elliot Tyler Johnson (born March 9, 1984) is an American former professional baseball utility player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians. Professional career Tampa Bay Rays Johnson signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as a non-drafted free agent on June 29, 2002, out of Thatcher High School in Thatcher, Arizona and began his professional career with the Princeton Devil Rays rookie level team in Princeton, West Virginia. In 2005, he played for the Visalia Oaks of Visalia, California (A class A minor-league affiliate of the Devil Rays). In the same season, Johnson got promoted to class AA with the Montgomery Biscuits, then in 2007 moved to the Durham Bulls to play with the class AAA minor league affiliate. Johnson made the Tampa Bay Rays opening day roster for the 2008 season. On April 5, 2008, he made his debut against the New York Yankees as the team's designated hitter. He had four at bats and recorded his first major league hit, a single off of Andy Pettitte. He had three hits in 19 at-bats over seven games for the Devil Rays that season before he was sent back down to Durham. He spent the next two seasons in the minors, missing two months in 2009 with a fractured thumb. In 2010, he hit .319 for Durham and was selected to appear in the Triple-A All-Star game. He was also named the Bulls most valuable player. John Romano of 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 15, 2011, he hit his first major league home run against Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jake Arrieta. On August 12, 2011, he was one of 5 Rays to hit solo home runs off CC Sabathia in a 5-1 Tampa Bay victory. Johnson was designated for assignment on February 5, 2013. In part of three seasons with the Devil Rays/Rays, he hit .223 with 10 homers and 50 RBI. Kansas City Royals Johnson was acquired by the Kansas City Royals on February 12, 2013, from the Rays as the player to be named later in the James Shields trade. He was designated for assignment on August 15, 2013 and released on August 19. In 79 games, he hit .179. Atlanta Braves Johnson was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves on August 21, 2013. He played in his first game as a Brave on the same day. In his first four at bats, Johnson singled twice. He hit his first RBI as a Brave three days later on August 25, 2013. After the season, Johnson was non-tendered by the Braves, making him a free agent. In 32 games, he hit .261. Cleveland Indians On January 27, 2014, Johnson signed a minor league