Kelly Johnson: 2015 NL Champion Mets Utility Player & Key Pinch Hitter (2015 - 2016)
MLB Debut: Johnson debuted in 2005 with the Braves starting out his career as an outfielder. After spending 2006 in the minors, he was coming back in 2007 converted into the Braves everyday second baseman.
He spent a total of four seasons in Atlanta hitting a best .287 in 2008 with a career high 39 doubles. In 2010 he signed on as a free agent with the Arizona D-backs.
In Arizona he found power & became more of a HR hitter, hitting a career high 26 HRs & 71 RBIs while batting .284. That season he hit for the cycle on July 23rd in a game against the San Francisco Giants. In 2011 he hit two grand slams for the D-backs, then after hitting 18 HRs with Arizona he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Aaron Hill & John McDonald. In the first game he was to debut for the Blue Jays he could not play because he had forgotten his passport & wasn't allowed into Canada.
He finished that season & played 2012 in Toronto hitting 16 HRs with 52 RBIs that year. He then signed a deal with the Tampa Rays following with a second straight 16 HR 50 RBI plus season.
2014 Post Season: He made two appearances in the post season in the ALDS win over Detroit & ALCS loss to the Kansas City Royals.
Johnson signed on with his old Atlanta Braves team for 2015, hitting .275 with 9 HRs & 34 RBIs in 62 games playing all over the infield & outfield.
Mets Career: On July 24th Johnson & Juan Uribe were traded to the New York Mets for minor leaguers John Gant & Robert Whalen.
Quotes- Johnson on his trade to the Mets: “As a young player, being in Atlanta, coming into Shea before Citi, this was intimidating. The place was rocking. The team was really good. It was just a big rivalry. Being there and seeing the way that guys like Chipper Jones and John Smoltz got up for this series -- each way, home and away, and especially coming here to this city -- it is a little bit weird. It’s very weird.”
At the time of the trade, it certainly wasn't realized the impact the two players would have on the Mets team fighting for an NL East title. Johnson found himself in the Mets line up right away, solidifying their defense mostly in the infield & making the bench a lot deeper.
Mets GM Sandy Alderson: “We like the fact that it’s sort of a general upgrade of our overall position-player roster. Johnson plays a lot of different positions. Uribe plays a spot where we can use some additional support. And, overall, it raised the quality of our roster. They’re veteran players, so we’re happy to have them.”
Mets Debut: On July 25th, in his first Mets game, Johnson helped the team in a 15-2 win over the LA Dodgers at Citi Field. Johnson had two hits & hit a HR off Zach Lee, helping Matt Harvey to his 9th win.
On August 1st, Johnson Got two hits in the Mets 3-2 win over the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
On August 27th he hit his 12th HR of the year in a 9-5 win at Philadelphia. He began September with RBI's in his first three games & would drive in at least one run in six of nine games thru September 12th.
On September 9th, with the Mets down 2-1 in the top of the 8th, Kelly came up as a pinch hitter.
He hit his 4th Mets HR, coming against Stephen Strasburg tying up the game. Yoenis Cespedes would add a two-run shot later in the inning as New York went on to a 5-3 win to sweep the series.
Johnson played at second base (26 games) first base (five games) outfield (six games) & short stop for one game.
2015 World Series: In the World Series he got to start in Game #1 as the teams DH. In the 3rd
inning, he was hit by a pitch by Edinson Volquez. He grounded out in the 5th inning & was replaced by Michael Cuddyer in the 7th inning.
On June 15th, just five days after coming back to New York, he got a start & hit a well-received HR off the Pirates Jeff Locke in a Mets 11-2 win over Pittsburgh at Citi Field. Johnson contributed with three hits on the day (3-5) with three runs scored.
Another Come Back: On August 10th with the Mets down to Arizona 2-0 in the bottom of the 9th inning, Kelly hit a pinch hit two run HR off Jake Barrett to tie the game. But Jerry Blevins served up a HR in top of the 12th as the Mets took a 3-2 loss.
Grand Slam HR: On August 27th, as the Mets began hot pursuit to capture the wild card race, Johnson hit a pinch-hit grand slam HR off Philadelphia's Michael Mariot in a 12-1 Mets romp over the Phillies at Citi Field.
Another Tie Breaker: On August 31st, Kelly came to bat in the bottom of the 8th inning with the
He walked 15 times with a .328 on base % & posted a .787 OPS. Once again, his contributions to the Mets were huge, as he helped to win at least five games since his arrival.
Family: Johnson & his wife Lauren have three children.
Johnson signed on with his old Atlanta Braves team for 2015, hitting .275 with 9 HRs & 34 RBIs in 62 games playing all over the infield & outfield.
Quotes- Johnson on his trade to the Mets: “As a young player, being in Atlanta, coming into Shea before Citi, this was intimidating. The place was rocking. The team was really good. It was just a big rivalry. Being there and seeing the way that guys like Chipper Jones and John Smoltz got up for this series -- each way, home and away, and especially coming here to this city -- it is a little bit weird. It’s very weird.”
At the time of the trade, it certainly wasn't realized the impact the two players would have on the Mets team fighting for an NL East title. Johnson found himself in the Mets line up right away, solidifying their defense mostly in the infield & making the bench a lot deeper.
Mets Debut: On July 25th, in his first Mets game, Johnson helped the team in a 15-2 win over the LA Dodgers at Citi Field. Johnson had two hits & hit a HR off Zach Lee, helping Matt Harvey to his 9th win.
On August 1st, Johnson Got two hits in the Mets 3-2 win over the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. That week the Mets swept the Nationals and would take over first place for good. The club also acquired Tyler Clippard & Yoenis Cespedes solidifying the 2015 Mets. These may have been the best late season additions the Mets have ever added.
On August 13th Kelly had a big three extra base hit -multi-RBI Day against the Rockies. He doubled twice & hit a solo HR off Scott Oberg for his 11th HR of the year, in a 12-3 Mets win over Colorado at Citi Field.
Big Series in D.C.: On September 7th the Mets would open up a big series with the Nationals in D.C. leading them by four games in the division. The Mets swept the series & left seven games up.
On September 7th Johnson homered in the 2nd inning off Max Scherzer giving the Mets a 2-0 lead, they went on to an 8-5 win.
He hit his 4th Mets HR, coming against Stephen Strasburg tying up the game. Yoenis Cespedes would add a two-run shot later in the inning as New York went on to a 5-3 win to sweep the series.
On September 26th the Mets clinched the NL Eastern title with a 10-2 win at Cincinnati. Johnson led off the 9th inning with a pinch hit single & scored on David Wright's three run HR.
By the end of September, Kelly Johnson had five multi-hit games, hit 5 HRs with 6 doubles 13 RBI's & scored 18 runs batting .250 for the Mets in 49 games.
Johnson played at second base (26 games) first base (five games) outfield (six games) & short stop for one game.2015 Post Season- NLDS: In the Mets NLDS win over the Dodgers, Johnson made four pinch hit appearances, collecting a hit in the 7th inning of Game #5 off Zack Greinke in the Mets 3-2 win in Dodger Stadium.
He went 0-2 in the NLCS sweep over the Cubs.
inning, he was hit by a pitch by Edinson Volquez. He grounded out in the 5th inning & was replaced by Michael Cuddyer in the 7th inning.
He appeared in two more games as a pinch hitter, grounding out in the 8th inning of Game #4 & popping up to end the 10th inning of Game #5. The Mets lost the game in 12 innings & the series 4 games to one.
Johnson got into nine post season games going 1-10. It was his last post season. In his post season career, he played in 17 games in four different seasons, batting .125 (2-16) with a walk.
Post Mets Career: 
After the World Series, the Mets let him go to free agency & in January 2016 he was signed by the Atlanta Braves. His return to Atlanta was welcomed by the fans but after 49 games he was traded back to the New York Mets for another pennant drive.
After the World Series, the Mets let him go to free agency & in January 2016 he was signed by the Atlanta Braves. His return to Atlanta was welcomed by the fans but after 49 games he was traded back to the New York Mets for another pennant drive. Return to the Mets: His veteran leadership, versatility & key hitting was very important for the Mets & they wanted it back. On June 8th the Mets traded Akeel Morris to get Johnson back.
On June 10th he got to start the game at second base in a 2-1 win at Milwaukee. He collected a hit & drew a walk. He would get hits in his first three games back with the Mets.
On June 15th, just five days after coming back to New York, he got a start & hit a well-received HR off the Pirates Jeff Locke in a Mets 11-2 win over Pittsburgh at Citi Field. Johnson contributed with three hits on the day (3-5) with three runs scored. Game Winning HR: On June 25th, in his return to Atlanta, Johnson hit an 11th inning pinch hit HR off Dario Alvarez, in a scoreless game providing the Mets with the only run in the exciting 1-0 win.
In early July as the Mets swept the Chicago Cubs in New York, Johnson hit a HR in the 14-3 series finale.
In early July as the Mets swept the Chicago Cubs in New York, Johnson hit a HR in the 14-3 series finale.
On August 4th he hit a HR off Nathan Eovaldi in the Mets subway series 4-1 win. The next day he got another start filling in at third base for Jose Reyes in Detroit. He hit a two run HR off Justin Verlander in the Mets 4-3 loss.
Another Come Back: On August 10th with the Mets down to Arizona 2-0 in the bottom of the 9th inning, Kelly hit a pinch hit two run HR off Jake Barrett to tie the game. But Jerry Blevins served up a HR in top of the 12th as the Mets took a 3-2 loss.Grand Slam HR: On August 27th, as the Mets began hot pursuit to capture the wild card race, Johnson hit a pinch-hit grand slam HR off Philadelphia's Michael Mariot in a 12-1 Mets romp over the Phillies at Citi Field.
bases loaded & the Mets & Marlins tied at 2-2. He cleared the bases with a three run double off AJ Ramos leading the Mets to the 5-2 win.
Johnson had a modest September going 10-48 driving in four runs all in Mets wins, with four runs scored. He hit his 10th & final career HR on September 5th off the Reds Robert Stephenson in a 5-0 Mets win.
Last Come from Behind Pinch Hit: On September 9th the Mets were down 4-2 to the Braves in the top of the 8th inning. They came back with two runs & pinch hitter Kelly Johnson put them ahead for good with an RBI double off Mauricio Cabrera.
In 82 games with the Wild Card Mets of 2016, he batted .268 with 9 HRs 8 doubles & 24 RBIs
He was granted free agency at the end of the season & was not picked up by anyone in 2017.
Career Stats: In his eleven-year career he has played sis positions on the field, except pitcher, catcher & center field. In 1399 games he hit .251 with 1140 hits 230 doubles 40 triples 155 HRs 550 RBIs & 632 runs scored. He struck out 1145 times, walked 516 times with a .330 on base % & posted a .751 OPS.
Career Stats: In his eleven-year career he has played sis positions on the field, except pitcher, catcher & center field. In 1399 games he hit .251 with 1140 hits 230 doubles 40 triples 155 HRs 550 RBIs & 632 runs scored. He struck out 1145 times, walked 516 times with a .330 on base % & posted a .751 OPS.
Family: Johnson & his wife Lauren have three children.
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