11/05/24
July 11, 2003
On Wednesday, Houston Astros Triple A pitcher Jonathan Johnson walked four batters and threw four wild pitches in two innings. When he hit a batter, the former first-round pick walked off the mound, left the clubhouse, and kept on walking (second item).
From last Sunday's Daily Oklahoman: Johnson, who turns 29 on July 16, is one of the friendliest players in Oklahoma City’s baseball history. Last year, after the likeable lefty was briefly sent down to Double-A El Paso, he had a day game in Tulsa, so he drove to The Brick (Oklahoma City's ballpark) that night. As RedHawk teammates, J.J. and pitcher R.A. Dickey founded a non-profit organization, Honoring the Father Ministries. J.J. was scheduled to be the RedHawks’ starting pitcher in their first game at The Brick, but a back injury ruined those plans in April 1998. This year, Johnson was 5-4 with a 3.92 ERA in 13 starts for New Orleans. He earned a promotion to the major leagues in late May, going 0-1 with a 5.87 ERA in three starts for Houston. Johnson said retiring from baseball had been on his mind since last season, when he was 1-6 for four different teams and bothered about being away from his wife Kristin and their two sons, Tucker, 5, and McKade, 21 months. “It was a real roller-coaster year,” Johnson said. “It’s really how my whole career has been.” J.J. was a first-team All-American with a 34-5 career record at Florida State. One of those wins was over Oklahoma at the 1995 College World Series. He was the Rangers’ first choice, the seventh player picked overall, in the ’95 amateur draft. Johnson’s first game for the old 89ers was a two-hit shutout over Louisville on July 23, 1996. It would be his only complete-game shutout in pro ball. J.J. had a 20-25 record in 90 games for Oklahoma City teams. Overall, he was 2-4 in the major leagues and 48-55 in the minors. “It’s a very frustrating and humbling game,” Zephyrs pitching coach Jim Hickey told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “When you’re used to performing at a certain level and you’re unable to perform at that level, and you really can’t figure out why, things can really go haywire.”
posted by bitstop at 11:37 AM on July 11, 2003
I don't know if I missed it, but did they ever say how old this guy was? That would play a big factor in his decision, I would think. Also, there's NO WAY this guy is done. 5-4 with an ERA below 4.00 at Triple A, and he thinks he's finished? I don't think so. Man, if Rich Ankiel can stick it out, so can you.