Bryce Johnson (baseball)
Bryce Christopher Johnson (born October 27, 1995) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He played college baseball at Sam Houston State University. The Giants selected Johnson in the sixth round of the 2017 MLB draft. In 2021, he led the Triple-A West in stolen bases. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants.
Bryce Johnson | |
---|---|
Free agent | |
Outfielder | |
Born: Cypress, Texas, U.S. | October 27, 1995|
Bats: Switch Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
August 3, 2022, for the San Francisco Giants | |
Career statistics (through 2023 season) | |
Batting average | .148 |
Home runs | 1 |
Runs batted in | 5 |
Teams | |
Early life
Johnson was born in Cypress, Texas.[1] He attended Cypress Ranch High School. He played for the school's baseball team; MaxPreps named him to the 2013 Texas Class 5A All-District Baseball First Team. He also played for the school's football team, playing as a wide receiver in football; MaxPreps named him to the 2013 Texas 5A All-District Football First Team.[2][3][4][5][6]
College
Johnson attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, to play college baseball for the Sam Houston State Bearkats. In his freshman season in 2015 he batted .310/.392/.364 with 16 stolen bases (6th in the Southland Conference) in 21 attempts.[7] He was named Southland Conference Honorable Mention.[8]
He began switch-hitting in his sophomore year in college to take advantage of his speed.[4][9] In Johnson's sophomore season in 2016 he batted .345(8th in the Conference)/.401/.418 in 261 at bats, with 51 runs (5th), 8 sacrifice hits (9th), and 20 stolen bases (2nd) in 27 attempts, and his 90 hits ranked 20th in the nation as well as first in the Conference.[8][9][10] He was named Second-Team All-Southland Conference.[8] In 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[11]
In his junior season in 2017 with Sam Houston State he batted .350(5th in the Conference)/.453(5th)/.434 in 263 at bats, with 63 runs (2nd), 5 triples (leading the conference), 34 walks (10th), 17 hit by pitch (3rd), and 33 stolen bases (2nd) in 40 attempts.[9][12] The San Francisco Giants selected Johnson in the sixth round of the 2017 MLB draft, and he signed for a signing bonus of $210,000.[13][14]
Professional career
In 2017 with the Low-A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes he batted .329(3rd in the Northwest League)/.400(6th)/.369 in 222 at bats, and 10 hit by pitch (2nd), with 25 stolen bases (4th) in 35 attempts.[15] He played 43 games in left field, 15 in center field, and one in right field, and had 8 assists and a 1.000 fielding percentage.[1] He was named an NWL post-season All Star.[16]
In 2018 with the High-A San Jose Giants, he batted .249/.339/.324 in 441 at bats, with 54 walks (6th in the California League), 7 sacrifice hits (4th), and 31 stolen bases (3rd) in 35 attempts.[17] He played all 112 games in center field, had 7 assists, and had a 1.000 fielding percentage.[1] He received the MiLB Gold Glove Award.[16]
In 2019 with the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels and the San Jose Giants, in aggregate he batted .255/.346/.366 in 470 at bats with 26 steals.[18] He played 73 games in right field, 43 games in center field, and six games in left field.[1] Johnson did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[19]
In 2021 with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats in the Triple-A West he batted .286/.377/.433 in 363 at bats.[18] He scored 65 runs, with 5 triples (9th in the league), 9 home runs, 44 RBIs, 48 walks (9th in the league), 108 strikeouts (4th in the league), and 30 stolen bases (leading the league) in 34 attempts.[18][20] He played 56 games in center field, 14 games in right field, and 12 games in left field.[1]
In 2022, with Triple-A Sacramento he batted .290/.369/.401 in 307 at bats, with 41 runs, four triples, five home runs, and 36 RBIs, as he stole 31 bases (6th in the PCL) in 36 attempts.[21] He played 67 games in center field, 15 in left field, nine in right field, and two at DH.[21] The Giants promoted Johnson to the major leagues for the first time on August 3. On September 4, Johnson recorded his first career hit, a single off of Philadelphia Phillies starter Ranger Suárez.[22] With the Giants, Johnson went 2-for-19 (.111) with 2 RBI.[23] At the time of his call-up, he was batting .283 in 237 at bats with five home runs, three triples, seven hit by pitch (7th in the Pacific Coast League), and 31 stolen bases (6th) in 36 attempts in Triple A in 2022.[24][18][4] On November 9, 2022, Johnson was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A.
The Giants assigned Johnson to Sacramento to begin the 2023 season.[25] On April 1, 2023, Johnson was selected to the active roster.[26] On April 3, Johnson hit his first career home run off of Chicago White Sox reliever José Ruiz.[27] In 30 games for the Giants, he batted .163/.229/.256 with one home run, 3 RBI, and 3 stolen bases. On August 29, Johnson was designated for assignment following Mitch Haniger's activation from the injured list.[28] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Sacramento on September 3.[29] On October 2, Johnson elected free agency.
References
- "Bryce Johnson - Stats". The Baseball Cube.
- "2013 Texas Class 5A All-District Baseball Teams - MaxPreps". www.maxpreps.com.
- "Texas 5A All-District Football Teams - MaxPreps". www.maxpreps.com.
- "Giants hope speedy Bryce Johnson can help solve defensive issues". news.yahoo.com.
- Verdejo, Angel (June 9, 2012). "Cy Ranch beats A&M Consolidated for 5A state title". Chron.com. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- Hatfield, William (October 26, 2012). "Martin helps Cy Ranch rally past Cy-Fair". Chron.com. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- "2015 Southland Conference Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
- "Bryce Johnson - 2017 - Baseball". Sam Houston.
- "Switch-hitting outfielder Bryce Johnson sparks Flying Squirrels' offense with breakout season". MiLB.com.
- "2016 Southland Conference Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
- "Bryce Johnson". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
- "2017 Southland Conference Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
- JP McBride. "Kats' Johnson selected by San Francisco in sixth round". Itemonline.com.
- "SHSU OF Bryce Johnson drafted in sixth round by Giants". Kbtx.com. June 13, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- "2017 Northwest League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
- "Bryce Johnson Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com.
- "2018 California League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
- "Bryce Johnson College, Amateur & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
- "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- "2021 Triple-A West Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
- "Bryce Johnson College, Amateur & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- "WATCH: SF Giants outfielder Bryce Johnson records his first career MLB hit". si.com. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- Slusser, Susan (August 4, 2022). "Giants call up speedy, defensive-minded center fielder Bryce Johnson". San Francisco Chronicle.
- "2022 Pacific Coast League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
- Slusser, Susan (March 30, 2023). "Giants' Opening Day roster reshuffle crowds out Bryce Johnson, Sean Hjelle". San Francisco Chronicle.
- "SF Giants recall speedy outfielder Bryce Johnson, option Brett Wisely". si.com. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- "Johnson caps off historic Giants slugfest with memorable homer". nbcsports.com. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- "Giants' Bryce Johnson: Loses 40-man spot". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- "Giants' Bryce Johnson: Clears waivers". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet