29-year-old outfielder has been a productive stalwart in the Norfolk Tides lineup
*Cover Photo Credit: Kate Kirsch
In Minor League Baseball, it is not often that you have one or more players string out a whole Minor League season with one single affiliate the entire way. The Triple-A Norfolk Tides have seen over 73 players suit up in the Tides green and orange this season. The roster has ranged from some of the game's top prospects including Jackson Holliday to former big-league veterans including JD Davis.
There has been one player that has stuck out the entire season so far with the Tides and has been nothing short of productive all year. That is 29-year-old outfielder Daniel Johnson.
A native of Vallejo, California, Johnson is a former 5th round pick of the Washington Nationals but has Major League experience with the Cleveland Indians, who are now the Guardians. That resume consists of 35 big league games from 2020 to 2021, a brief sample size that consists of 4 home runs and a .582 OPS.
Johnson latched on with the Orioles this past offseason via a Minor League contract and was assigned to the Tides to begin the season. He has remained there since, obviously he wishes to return to the big leagues, but he has stood out as a star hitter in the everyday lineup.
He has been one of Norfolk's more consistent hitters and perhaps one of the most productive hitters all year, though MLB's No. 10 prospect Coby Mayo may have a say on that. Johnson has certainly been the Tides' best left-handed hitter this season.
In 100 Triple-A contests this season, which leads the team, he has hit .267 with a .476 slugging percentage and an .808 OPS. His 382 at-bats, 102 hits, and 71 RBI lead the Tides while his 20 home runs rank second behind Mayo's 22 home runs.
So far in the month of August, Johnson has slugged 6 home runs while collecting 17 RBI and posting a .512 slugging percentage. His best month was May when he hit .350 in 24 games with a 1.114 OPS, 6 homers, and 23 RBI.
Ironically, too, many hitters do better against opposite-handed pitching. Johnson, a left-handed swinger, is hitting left-handed pitching (.311) better than right-handed pitching (.253).
The organization's outfield is crowded and overflowed with talent both at the big-league level and in the Minor Leagues. Fan-favorite Cedric Mullins has been bumped to a platoon role and prospect Heston Kjerstad is trying to find his way back to the big leagues once again. Unfortunately for Johnson, it is hard to find a scenario where he returns to the big leagues with the Orioles.
Then again, it could happen. According to MASN, Johnson was on the Orioles' taxi-squad just three days ago.
Nonetheless, he has put together a season that Tides fans certainly won't forget, and it serves as a nice resume boost that could help him score a big-league job somewhere down the road. Should the Orioles need outfield help due to an injury (Heaven forbid) or some other reason, Johnson should be one of the first names that they call on to provide aid.
Daniel Johnson has been Norfolk's most productive left-handed bat all season, and this will serve him well moving forward in his professional baseball career.
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