Russ Johnson

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name=Russ Johnson
number=--
position=Infielder
team=Free Agent
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1973|2|22
debutdate=April 8
debutyear=1997
debutteam=Houston Astros
statyear=2007
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.264
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=14
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=97
teams=
*Houston Astros (by|1997-by|2000)
*Tampa Bay Devil Rays (by|2000-by|2002)
*New York Yankees (by|2005)

William Russell Johnson (born February 22, 1973 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is a free agent Major League Baseball infielder. He went to Louisiana State University and was drafted in the first round of the by|1994 amateur draft by the Houston Astros. In by|1997, he was called to the Majors by the Astros, where he remained until by|2000. His best season in Houston was by|1999, when he hit .282 with four home runs and 33 RBI.

In the middle of the 2000 season, Johnson was traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for reliever Marc Valdes. He moved around several times during the next few years. With minor leaguer Josh Pressley, he was supplied by the Devil Rays in by|2002 to the New York Mets as a player to be named later in a deal for Rey Ordonez. He spent by|2003 and by|2004 in the minor leagues with the Mets' and Cubs' Triple A teams respectively.

He reached the Majors again in by|2005, when he signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees. He spent the year coming in off the bench as a first baseman, third baseman, pinch hitter, designated hitter, or outfielder. This made him the second "William Russell Johnson" to play for the Yankees. (Billy Johnson, who has the same first, middle, and last name, but is no relation, played for New York in the 1940s.)

In by|2006, he played for the Yankees Triple-A team, and led the International League in walk percentage (14.8%). [http://www.fangraphs.com/minorleaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=2&qual=y&type=1&season=2006] He spent by|2007 in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system, where he hit a combined .261 in 106 games split between Double-A and Triple-A.

External links