Name (Japanese): ピアース・ジョンソン
Date of Birth: May 10, 1991
Hometown: Denver, Colorado, USA
High School: Faith Christian Academy (CO)
University: Missouri State U (MO)
Family Status: Married, 1 son
Position: Relief Pitcher
Height: 188 cm (6’2″)
Weight: 91 kg (200 lb)
Throws/Bats: Right/Right
Wore #: 52
Originally drafted by: Chicago Cubs, 2012 (Round 1)
Joined the Tigers in: 2019
Warm-Up Song: mac pro
– the purge siren dubstep
Career Achievements/Awards: All-Star Game (2019)
Career Stats:
| Yr | Team | ERA | GP | GS | CG | SO | No BB | GC | W | L | HLD | HP | SV | W% | IP | BF | H | HR | K | K/9 | BB | HBP | WP | BK | R | ER | AVG vs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Tigers | 1.38 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 40 | 42 | 0 | .400 | 58.2 | 224 | 34 | 2 | 91 | 13.96 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 9 | .165 |
| Career | 1.38 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 40 | 42 | 0 | .400 | 58.2 | 224 | 34 | 2 | 91 | 13.96 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 9 | .165 |
Brief Biography:
Pierce Johnson was first drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 15th round of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft. He did not sign, however, instead opting to go to college. Three years later, the Chicago Cubs chose him in the supplemental first round (43rd overall). He stayed in their minor-league system for four seasons before making his big-league debut in May 2017. He pitched in one game, giving up two (unearned) runs in an inning of work before being shuttled back down to the farm. He was DFA’ed in September, and immediately signed with the San Francisco Giants. After spending the first two months on the top squad, he spent the rest of the year bouncing back and forth between the majors and minors, getting sent down four times after call-ups. He was released at the end of the year, and on December 8th, signed a one-year deal with the Hanshin Tigers.
Johnson came to camp ready to play, and started his career with the Tigers going 7 straight pre-season appearances and then another 16 to start the regular season without allowing a run. Soon thereafter, he recorded holds in twelve straight games during a stretch from mid-May until the start of July. In the middle of this streak, though, the team deactivated Johnson towards the end of interleague play because of fatigue. Because of his stellar first half, he was voted onto the all-star team. He pitched a clean 8th inning in the rain in Game 2 at Koshien Stadium.
Despite stumbling out of the post-ASG blocks (losing one against the Dragons on July 15), Johnson continued to play well the rest of the way. In fact, he set up three of the team’s final six wins, allowing no hits and striking out seven of the 11 batters he faced, as the team miraculously advanced to the playoffs on Game 143. It was at that time that Johnson left the club to be by his wife’s side as she gave birth to their first child. He missed the entire first series against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, but rushed back for the final two games against the Yomiuri Giants. The team elected not to activate him, though, as he was probably not over the jetlag at that point. The team bowed out, and Johnson left Japan a few days later, thanking the club and its fans for all their support.
Though Hanshin did all they could to sign him to a contract extension, they were unable to reach an agreement, and the team released him on November 30. He signed a two-year deal with the San Diego Padres the next month.
Related Articles:
The Johnsons are Japanophiles (March 15, 2019)
“PJ” Johnson, “Satelite” Garcia Meet the Press (January 29, 2019)
Nishi, Johnson Join Pitching Staff (December 8, 2018)