Dan Johnson (born March 13, 1979) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and Texas Rangers between 2005 and 2011. Over the course of his MLB career, Johnson compiled a .226 batting average with 44 home runs and 139 runs batted in (RBIs).
Early life and education
Daniel S. Johnson was born in Evansville, Indiana. He attended the University of Evansville, where he played college baseball for the Evansville Purple Aces.
Professional career
Minor leagues
Johnson was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the fifth round of the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft. He progressed through the Athletics’ minor‑league system, playing for teams such as the Modesto A’s, Midland RockHounds, and Sacramento River Cats.
Major League debut and Oakland Athletics (2005)
Johnson made his MLB debut on August 24, 2005 with the Oakland Athletics. He appeared in limited games as a pinch‑hitter and defensive replacement.
Detroit Tigers (2007–2008)
After being claimed off waivers, Johnson joined the Detroit Tigers for the 2007 season. He spent portions of the 2007 and 2008 seasons shuttling between Detroit and its Triple‑A affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens, serving primarily as a power‑hitting bench player.
Kansas City Royals (2009)
Johnson signed with the Kansas City Royals for the 2009 season, appearing in a handful of games before being designated for assignment.
Chicago White Sox (2009)
He was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox later in 2009 and spent the remainder of the season with their Triple‑A club, the Charlotte Knights, receiving limited major‑league playing time.
Cincinnati Reds (2010–2011)
Johnson signed a minor‑league contract with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010. He was called up in May 2010 and became known for his occasional power surges. On June 2, 2010, Johnson hit a walk‑off grand slam against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the first such grand slam by a Reds player since 1995. He remained with the Reds through part of the 2011 season.
Texas Rangers (2011)
Johnson’s final MLB appearance came with the Texas Rangers on June 4, 2011. He was subsequently released and continued his career in independent and overseas leagues before retiring from professional baseball.
Career statistics
- Batting average: .226
- Home runs: 44
- Runs batted in: 139
Personal life
Information regarding Johnson’s personal life, including post‑retirement activities, is not extensively documented in publicly available reliable sources.
Legacy
Johnson is remembered as a journeyman power hitter who provided occasional offensive contributions off the bench, highlighted by his memorable walk‑off grand slam for the Cincinnati Reds.