Johnny Davis (baseball, born 1990) facts for kids

Johnny Davis is a talented American baseball player. He was born on April 26, 1990. He plays as an outfielder, which means he helps catch balls hit into the outfield. He used to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays. Currently, he is a free agent, looking for his next team.

Johnny's Baseball Journey

Johnny Davis grew up in Compton, California. He went to Compton High School. It might surprise you, but Johnny did not play baseball in high school! He had only played one year of organized baseball when he was 13 years old.

In 2013, Johnny attended West Los Angeles College. This is where he played his only season of college baseball. He did very well, hitting for a high average and stealing 22 bases.

Starting with the Brewers

After his great college season, the Milwaukee Brewers noticed Johnny. They picked him in the 22nd round of the 2013 MLB draft. This was a big step for him!

Johnny played for several Brewers teams in the minor leagues. He played for the AZL Brewers in 2013. In 2014, he played for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He was known for his speed, stealing many bases.

In 2015, he played for the Brevard County Manatees. He had a tough year because of a knee injury. He worked hard to come back. In 2016, he split his time between Brevard County and the Biloxi Shuckers. He continued to steal bases and improve his game. He played for Biloxi again in 2017, hitting 5 home runs and stealing 52 bases!

Playing Independent Baseball

In 2018, Johnny left the Brewers. He then joined the Kansas City T-Bones in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. This league is for players who are not signed with MLB teams. He played 11 games there.

Later in 2018, Johnny moved to the Mexican League. He signed with the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos. He had a great time there, hitting well and stealing 28 bases. He returned to the team in 2019, stealing 48 more bases.

In July 2019, he was loaned to the Guerreros de Oaxaca. He played 14 games there before becoming a free agent.

Reaching Major League Baseball

On August 29, 2019, Johnny signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. He played a few games for their minor league teams, the Montgomery Biscuits and the Durham Bulls.

Then, on September 11, 2019, something amazing happened! The Rays called Johnny up to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut that night against the Texas Rangers. He entered the game as a pinch runner. Just two days later, on September 13, he got his first ever MLB hit! It was a triple.

After the 2019 season, Johnny became a free agent again. He re-signed with the Rays in February 2020. However, the minor league season was canceled that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He became a free agent again in November.

More Baseball Adventures

In 2021, Johnny returned to the Mexican League. He signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey. He played a few games before getting injured. Later that year, he joined the Mariachis de Guadalajara. He played well for them, hitting two home runs.

In 2022, Johnny signed with the Gastonia Honey Hunters in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He played 21 games there, showing off his speed with nine stolen bases.

He then returned to the Mexican League again, joining the Leones de Yucatán. He played 17 games and helped the Leones win the Mexican League Championship in 2022! This was a big achievement for him.

In February 2023, Johnny announced he was retiring from professional baseball.

Coming Out of Retirement

But Johnny's love for baseball brought him back! In March 2024, he came out of retirement. He signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. A week later, he was traded to the Charros de Jalisco. However, he did not make the team and became a free agent before the season began.