Daniel Johnson Bio
Daniel Johnson Jr. (born July 11, 1995) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, and San Francisco Giants, building his career through the minor leagues with several organizations.
A native of northern California, Johnson rose to professional baseball after a strong college career in the Western Athletic Conference. He has spent parts of seven seasons in the minor leagues, producing power and speed at multiple levels, while earning brief stints on major league rosters with Cleveland, Baltimore, and San Francisco.
Early Life and Background
Daniel Johnson Jr. was born and raised in Vallejo, California, where he grew up around athletics and developed into a multi-sport athlete. He attended Jesse M. Bethel High School in Vallejo, where his baseball skills stood out. In 2013, his senior year, Johnson hit .515, a remarkable average that drew attention from college and professional scouts.
Despite his productive senior season, Johnson went undrafted in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft and chose to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level. He enrolled at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, where as a freshman in 2014 he batted .274 with two home runs and 16 RBIs across 39 games. The following offseason, he transferred to New Mexico State University to compete in a stronger baseball program.
Path to Professional Baseball
At New Mexico State, Johnson continued to develop. In 2015, his sophomore season, he batted .305 with two home runs and 16 RBIs, showing a balanced offensive profile. His junior season in 2016 was his breakout year, slashing .382/.434/.630 with 12 home runs, 50 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases over 57 games. He was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year for his performance.
Following his junior year, Johnson declared for the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. The Washington Nationals selected him in the fifth round, officially launching his professional career.
Daniel Johnson Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Johnson began his professional career in 2016 with the Auburn Doubledays of the short-season New York-Penn League. He hit .265 with one home run and 14 RBIs in 62 games, showing early signs of the offensive potential that had drawn the Nationals’ attention. The organization believed in his ability to stick in center field and produce double-digit home runs as he developed.
He opened 2017 with the Hagerstown Suns of the South Atlantic League, where he immediately demonstrated greater power and hitting ability. He hit ten home runs by the end of May and carried a batting average above .300, earning a spot on the South Atlantic League Northern Division All-Star team alongside teammate Carter Kieboom. He was promoted to the Advanced-A Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League in late July and finished the year with a .298 average, 22 home runs, 72 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases across 130 games. The Nationals named him their Minor League Player of the Year for 2017. In 2018, he battled injuries but appeared in 89 games for the Harrisburg Senators, slashing .267/.321/.410 with six home runs and 31 RBIs.
Cleveland Indians Era (2019–2021)
On November 30, 2018, Johnson was traded to the Cleveland Indians, along with Jefry Rodríguez and a player to be named later, for Yan Gomes. He spent most of 2019 in the minor leagues, splitting time between the Akron RubberDucks and the Columbus Clippers, and was promoted to Columbus on May 25. He played in the 2019 All-Star Futures Game in July. Over 123 games between the two affiliates, he batted .290 with 19 home runs and 77 RBIs.
Johnson was added to the Indians’ 40-man roster after the 2019 season and made the Opening Day roster in 2020. He made his major league debut on July 25, 2020, going hitless in three at-bats, and finished the year with a .083 average over 12 at-bats. On July 18, 2021, he hit his first career home run, a solo shot off Oakland Athletics starter Chris Bassitt. He was designated for assignment when the franchise rebranded as the Cleveland Guardians on November 19, 2021, and was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus a few days later. He began 2022 with Columbus, hitting .217/.217/.377 in 17 games before being traded to the New York Mets on May 25, 2022, in exchange for cash considerations. He played 14 games for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, batting .136/.167/.227, and was released on July 24. He returned to the Washington Nationals organization on July 29, 2022, appearing in 26 games for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings before electing free agency on November 10.
San Diego Padres and Baltimore Orioles (2023–2024)
On February 23, 2023, Johnson signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres. In 126 games split between the Double-A San Antonio Missions and the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, he batted .271/.348/.469 with 19 home runs, 73 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases. He elected free agency on November 6.
On January 23, 2024, Johnson signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles. He spent most of the year with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, slashing .259/.320/.448 with 21 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases across 118 games. On September 21, the Orioles selected his contract, and he made one appearance for Baltimore, grounding out in his only at-bat. He was removed from the 40-man roster on October 31 and elected free agency.
San Francisco Giants and Orioles Return (2025)
On February 21, 2025, Johnson signed with the Caliente de Durango of the Mexican League, where he batted .429/.512/.943 with five home runs, 12 RBI, and one stolen base in 10 games. On May 2, 2025, he signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants. With the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, he slashed .272/.312/.534 with six home runs, 18 RBI, and five stolen bases across 26 appearances. The Giants selected his contract on June 4, and he appeared in 14 games for San Francisco, batting .172/.226/.345 with one home run, one RBI, and one stolen base before being designated for assignment on August 8.
On August 11, 2025, Johnson was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles. In 17 appearances for the Orioles, he batted .208/.269/.250 with one stolen base and two walks. He was designated for assignment on November 5 and rejected an outright assignment to Norfolk, electing free agency.
Notable Events and Milestones
Johnson’s career has featured several notable moments, including being named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2016 and the Washington Nationals’ Minor League Player of the Year in 2017. His first major league home run, a solo shot off Chris Bassitt on July 18, 2021, was a milestone moment, and he has also played in the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.
Daniel Johnson Career Wins
Daniel Johnson Jr.’s career has been built around consistent offensive production in the minor leagues, where his power-speed combination has been his calling card. He has posted double-digit home run totals in multiple seasons and has stolen 30 or more bases twice in his professional career.
Minor League Highlights
Johnson’s most productive minor league season came in 2017, when he hit 22 home runs, drove in 72 runs, and stole 22 bases across two levels. He followed that with a strong 2019 split between Akron and Columbus, batting .290 with 19 home runs and 77 RBIs, and a 2023 season with the Padres’ affiliates in which he hit 19 home runs and stole 30 bases.
Daniel Johnson Family
Personal Life
Daniel Johnson Jr. was born and raised in Vallejo, California. Public details about his immediate family and personal life are limited, and he has generally kept his private affairs out of the public eye as he has built his professional baseball career.
2025 Season Performance
Johnson’s 2025 season was a series of fresh starts. After a brief stint with Caliente de Durango in the Mexican League, he joined the San Francisco Giants organization in early May and quickly produced in Triple-A Sacramento. The Giants added him to the major league roster in early June, giving him 14 appearances with San Francisco, though his major league line remained modest.
After being designated for assignment by the Giants in August, Johnson was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles, returning to the franchise for a second stint. He appeared in 17 games for the Orioles down the stretch, providing outfield depth for a contending team. He finished the year with the organization before being designated for assignment in early November and electing free agency.
As a free agent entering the next offseason, Johnson remains a versatile outfielder with Triple-A track record power and speed. His ability to play all three outfield spots, combined with his recent minor league production, positions him as a depth option for organizations seeking outfield help.