Jim Johnson (baseball)

Infobox MLB player
name = Jim Johnson


width = 200
caption =
team = Baltimore Orioles
number = 43
position = Relief pitcher
birthdate = birth date and age|1983|6|27
birthplace = city-state|Johnson City|New York
bats = Right
throws = Right
debutdate = July 29
debutyear = 2006
debutteam = Baltimore Orioles
statyear = 2008
stat1label = Win-Loss
stat1value = 2-5
stat2label = Earned run average
stat2value = 3.30
stat3label = Strikeouts
stat3value = 39
teams =
*Baltimore Orioles (by|2006-present)

James Robert "Jim" Johnson (born June 27, 1983 in Johnson City, New York) is an American Major League Baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. In by|2006, Johnson played in Minor League Baseball for the Bowie Baysox of the Double-A Eastern League and in one game for the Baltimore Orioles. In by|2007, he played for the Norfolk Tides of the Triple-A International League and one game for the Orioles.

Personal life

Johnson was born in Johnson City, New York. He was raised in Endicott, New York and graduated from Union Endicott High School in 2001 when he was signed by Orioles scout Jim Howard. His nickname is "J.J."

Baseball career

He began the by|2008 season in the Triple-A Norfolk Tides starting rotation, but was called up to the Orioles on April 12. Pitching middle and late relief, he ran up 18 consecutive scoreless innings before giving up a 10th inning run to Oakland on May 5. [http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-orioles807,0,1801755.story]

He became the interim closer when George Sherrill went on the DL on August 19, 2008. [http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080819&content_id=3333336&vkey=pr_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal]

With Chris Ray potentially returning in mlby|2009 and the uncertainity of the rebuilding team, there are many roles that he could fufill. Most likely, he would be come the set-up man or go into the rotation as a starter. [http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-orioles807,0,1801755.story]

Johnson has been affectionately referred to as "Nails" by the Orioles fanbase as his relief appearances often "drive the nails into the coffin" of opposing teams' scoring attempts.

External links

* [http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=462382 Jim Johnson player page at MLB.com]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/j/johnsji04.shtml Jim Johnson career statistics at baseball-reference.com]
* [http://thebaseballcube.com/players/J/James-Johnson.shtml Statistics courtesy of the Baseball Cube]