Ben Johnson (outfielder) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ben Johnson |
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Johnson with the San Diego Padres in 2006
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| Outfielder / Manager | |||
| Born: June 18, 1981 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 26, 2005, for the San Diego Padres | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 10, 2007, for the New York Mets | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .230 | ||
| Home runs | 7 | ||
| Runs batted in | 26 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Benjamin Joseph Johnson (born June 18, 1981) is an American professional baseball manager and former outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres and New York Mets. MLB is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada. Today, he is the manager of the Memphis Redbirds.
Contents
Playing Professional Baseball
Ben Johnson started his professional baseball journey when he was picked in the 4th round of the 1999 MLB draft. The St. Louis Cardinals chose him. A year later, he was traded to the San Diego Padres.
Rising Through the Ranks
Johnson worked hard to move up in the minor leagues. By 2005, he reached Triple-A, which is just one step below the major leagues. He had a fantastic year, becoming a Triple-A All-Star outfielder. The San Diego Padres also named him their Minor League Player of the Year. That season, he hit for a .312 batting average and hit 25 home runs.
Making it to the Major Leagues
Because of his great performance, Ben Johnson was called up to the major leagues in 2005. He played for the San Diego Padres. In 2006, he continued to play for the Padres, hitting 4 home runs.
After the 2006 season, Johnson was traded to the New York Mets. He moved between the Mets' main team and their Triple-A team, the New Orleans Zephyrs. In June 2007, he got more playing time with the Mets. This happened because some of their regular outfielders were injured.
Johnson became a free agent in December 2007. This means he could sign with any team. The Mets later signed him again to a minor league deal in 2008. He was released by the Mets in May 2008. In 2009, he tried to return to baseball after some injuries. He played for the Orange County Flyers.
Coaching and Managing Career
After his playing days, Ben Johnson started a new path in baseball as a manager.
First Manager Job
In 2012, Johnson became a professional manager for the first time. He managed the Arizona/Goodyear Centennials in the Freedom Pro Baseball League. Later, he worked as a coach for the Durham Bulls. This team is the Triple-A affiliate for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Managing the Memphis Redbirds
In 2019, Ben Johnson was named the manager of the Memphis Redbirds. This team is a Triple-A affiliate for the St. Louis Cardinals. He continues to lead the team today.
