Josh Johnson (pitcher)

For other people of the same name see Joshua Johnson (disambiguation)

Josh Johnson
Florida Marlins – No. 55
Starting pitcher
Bats: Left Throws: Right
debut
September 10, 2005, for the Florida Marlins
Career statistics (through May 1, 2011)
Win–Loss record	48–22
Earned run average	2.97
Strikeouts	650
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
Florida Marlins (2005–present)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star selection (2009, 2010) 2× NL Pitcher of the Month (June 2010, April 2011) Led National League in ERA (2010)

Joshua Michael Johnson (born January 31, 1984 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Florida Marlins. The 6'7", 252 pound Johnson throws right-handed, and bats left-handed.

Early career

Johnson graduated from Jenks High School in Jenks, Oklahoma in 2002, when he was Tulsa World All-Metro Player of the Year. He helped lead the Trojans to two State Championships during his high school career. Johnson was drafted by the Marlins in the fourth round of the 2002 amateur draft. The righty made his professional baseball debut soon after with the Gulf Coast Marlins, earning a 0.60 ERA over 15 innings.

As a starter with Single-A Greensboro during the 2003 season, Johnson continued to limit his opponents' offensive numbers, collecting a paltry .223 opponent batting average. And in 2004, he saw more success with Single-A Jupiter. Despite a 5–12 record, Johnson's ERA remained a solid 3.38.

His performance at the Single-A level earned Johnson a promotion to Double-A Carolina in 2005. He was named the Marlins' Minor League Pitcher of the Year after a 12–4 record, a 3.87 ERA and a Southern League All-Star nod for Carolina.

Florida Marlins

Johnson made his major league debut September 10, 2005, for the Marlins with a scoreless inning of relief against the Philadelphia Phillies.

During the 2006 season, Johnson broke onto the major league scene by going (11–5) as a starter, while tallying a 3.03 ERA in that role. After spending all of April in the Florida bullpen, Johnson emerged as a major contributor in the Marlins' young, but surprisingly successful, starting staff. He fell five innings short of capturing the National League ERA title, a category he paced for much of the season. Johnson also placed fourth in voting for the National League Rookie of the Year, an award that went to his fellow Florida teammate, shortstop Hanley Ramirez.

In 2006 Johnson and fellow Marlin pitchers Scott Olsen, Anibal Sanchez and Ricky Nolasco became the first quartet of rookie pitchers in major league history to each record 10 wins.

After having dealt with elbow problems throughout the 2007 season, Johnson had Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery on August 3, 2007. He recovered surprisingly quickly and made his return to the Major Leagues on July 10, 2008, only eleven months after having undergone surgery.

He hit his first career home run off of Milwaukee's Dave Bush on June 4, 2009.

On July 5, 2009 Johnson was selected to the National League All Star squad by the players/coaches/managers votes. Fans do not vote for the All-Star pitchers.

On January 15, 2010, Johnson agreed to a four-year contract with the Marlins worth $39 million.

On May 29, 2010, Johnson lost to the Phillies 1–0, as Roy Halladay threw a perfect game.

In July 2010, he was selected to his second consecutive All Star game, which took place in Anaheim. Johnson pitched two perfect innings in the 2010 All-Star game, notably striking out Derek Jeter and Ichiro Suzuki. 2010 was also a record-setting year for Johnson, who gave up three runs or less in twelve consecutive starts. On the 28th of July, Johnson had started 21 games, and in those starts, only allowed more than three earned runs once, giving up only one earned run eight times and no earned runs six times.

Johnson finished the 2010 season second in the Majors in ERA (2.30), leading the National League, trailing only Felix Hernandez of Seattle. He finished 11–6 with 186 strikeouts in 28 starts, his year shortened by back pain. He made his final start of the season on September 4 against Atlanta.

Scouting report

Johnson has a solid pitching combination of a slider, change-up, curveball, and upper-90s fastball.

See also

List of Major League Baseball earned run average champions

External links

• Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)