APRIL 16 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
BRYCE JOHNSON
Pirates acquire minor league catcher Brett Sullivan in trade with Padres The Pirates made a minor league trade on Wednesday, acquiring catcher Brett Sullivan from the Padres for outfielder Bryce Johnson and cash c...
Returns to San Diego The Padres acquired Johnson and cash considerations from the Pirates on Wednesday in exchange for Brett Sullivan, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Impact Johnson got into 47 games as a reserve outfielder for the Padres last season before signing with the Pirates over the winter on a minor-league deal. He'll presumably report to Triple-A El Paso, where he'll provide outfield depth.
APRIL 16 • ROTOWIRE
Links up with Pittsburgh as NRI The Pirates signed Johnson to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Impact Johnson, 29, is a career .177/.248/.226 hitter over 140 plate appearances across three brief stints in the majors. He will compete for a reserve outfielder job but is likely to be assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis to begin the 2025 season.
JANUARY 13 • ROTOWIRE
Becomes free agent The Padres non-tendered Johnson on Thursday.
Impact Johnson appeared in 47 games for the Padres in the regular season, though he only slashed .206/.286/.238 over 73 plate appearances. Now a free agent, he'll look to latch on with another team to provide some organizational outfield depth.
NOVEMBER 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Optioned to Triple-A The Padres optioned Johnson to Triple-A El Paso on Monday.
Impact With Fernando Tatis Jr. back from the 60-day injured list, Johnson's playing time was set to dry up. He'll head back to El Paso, where the outfielder will stay ready in case another opportunity presents itself.
SEPTEMBER 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Back on bench against righty Johnson is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals.
Impact Johnson started in right field in both of the Padres' final two games of the weekend series against the Mets with New York sending a pair of southpaws to the mound, but he'll be back on the bench Monday with right-hander Kyle Gibson on the hill for St. Louis. He remains confined the short side of a strict platoon in right field with the lefty-hitting David Peralta while Fernando Tatis (adductor) remains on the injured list.
AUGUST 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Settling into weak side of platoon Johnson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Impact After getting called up from Triple-A El Paso on June 24, Johnson started in the Padres' ensuing seven games, but he went just 4-for-21 with three walks over that stretch. He's now hit the bench in five straight contests -- all against right-handed pitching -- with the left-handed-hitting David Peralta having seemingly taken hold of a strong-side platoon role in right field. The switch-hitting Johnson should still pick up regular starts versus left-handed pitching and could frequently be called upon to serve as a late-inning replacement for Peralta.
JULY 7, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Sitting Wednesday Johnson isn't in the Padres' lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.
Impact Johnson will receive a breather Wednesday after going 1-for-3 during a loss in Tuesday's series opener. David Peralta will take over in right field and bat seventh.
JULY 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Getting regular reps in right field Johnson will start in right field and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Red Sox.
Impact Following his call-up from Triple-A El Paso on Monday, Johnson has now started in six consecutive games, with three apiece coming against left- and right-handed pitching. He's gone just 2-for-16 at the plate in the first five games, but he's drawn three walks while coming around to score twice. Johnson looks like he'll be the preferred option in right field over David Peralta while Fernando Tatis (quadricep) is on the injured list.
JUNE 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Contract selected, starting Monday The Padres selected Johnson's contract from Triple-A El Paso on Monday, and he will start in right field and bat ninth for Monday's series opener against the Nationals.
Impact Johnson's promotion to the big club was part of a flurry of moves made by the Padres on Monday, including placing Fernando Tatis (quadriceps) on the injured list. Johnson joined San Diego on a minor-league contract in December, and in Triple-A he's slashing .301/.430/.461 with three home runs and 28 RBI over 259 plate appearances while adding 18 stolen bases. He appeared in 30 major-league games with the Giants in 2023, and the 28-year-old will be thrown into big-league action Monday against Nationals right-hander Patrick Corbin.
JUNE 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Elects free agency Johnson elected free agency Thursday.
Impact Johnson was outrighted off the Giants' 40-man roster a month ago and has now decided to look for a gig elsewhere. The 27-year-old outfielder posted just a .422 OPS over 67 plate appearances across the last two seasons with San Francisco.
OCTOBER 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Clears waivers The Giants outrighted Johnson to Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday.
Impact Johnson will stick around in the organization after going unclaimed off waivers when the Giants designated him for assignment last week. The switch-hitting outfielder has appeared in 30 games at the big-league level in 2023, slashing .163/.229/.256 with one home run and three stolen bases across 48 plate appearances. Johnson should continue to play fairly regularly at Sacramento for the rest of the season.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Designated for assignment Johnson was designated for assignment by the Giants on Tuesday.
Impact This move clears out a 40-man roster spot for Mitch Haniger (forearm) as he comes off the 60-day injured list. Johnson, 27, heads into DFA limbo with a career .148/.209/.213 batting line in 41 major-league games. He's put up an .820 OPS with seven homers and 14 steals in 50 games this summer at Triple-A.
AUGUST 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Banged up at Triple-A Johnson didn't play for Triple-A Sacramento in Saturday's 6-5 loss to Tacoma due to an unspecified injury, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
Impact According to Baggarly, Johnson is day-to-day with what's considered a minor injury, but the undisclosed issue was enough to take the 27-year-old out of the mix for a promotion to the Giants on Sunday. Rather than Johnson, the Giants chose to recall Luis Matos from Triple-A to provide an extra right-handed bat to the outfield. Since returning to Sacramento on July 19 a day after serving as the Giants' 27th man for a doubleheader, Johnson is slashing .258/.310/.419 with three home runs and seven stolen bases in 22 games.
AUGUST 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Called up as 27th man The Giants recalled Johnson from Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday to serve as the team's 27th man.
Impact With Monday's game against the Reds spilling into Tuesday, the Giants will get to bring up Johnson for Tuesday's regularly-scheduled contest. Johnson holds just a .485 OPS in the majors this season and will almost certainly return to Triple-A after the game is over.
JULY 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Sent back to Triple-A San Francisco optioned Johnson to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Impact Johnson has slashed just .163/.229/.256 in 30 games (48 plate appearances) this season at the major-league level. Scott Alexander (hamstring) is coming off the injured list in a corresponding move.
JULY 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Nabs another steal Johnson drew a walk, stole a base and scored a run in Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Mets.
Impact Johnson only received one plate appearance despite starting the game -- he was lifted for Joc Pederson in the fifth inning. This was Johnson's second start since he was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on June 22. The speedy outfielder is up to three steals, one home run, three RBI and seven runs scored through 48 plate appearances. He's gotten into 30 games, but he primarily works as a pinch runner and defensive replacement.
JULY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Posts steal as pinch runner Johnson stole a base as a pinch runner in Friday's 5-4 win over the Mets.
Impact Johnson has started just one of the last eight games since he was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento, even with injuries again piling up in the Giants' outfield. He remains mainly in a bench role, though he could get more of a look as long as Michael Conforto (hamstring) is sidelined. Johnson has two stolen bases, a home run, three RBI and six runs scored over 47 plate appearances this season.
JULY 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Back in majors The Giants recalled Johnson from Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Impact Johnson was optioned to Sacramento on June 6 and has since slashed .294/.379/.471 with two homers and six RBI across 58 plate appearances. With LaMonte Wade (side) and Mike Yastrzemski (hamstring) both day-to-day with injuries, Johnson will provide additional depth in the Giants outfield. Sean Hjelle was optioned to Sacramento in a corresponding move.
JUNE 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Optioned to Triple-A Johnson was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Monday.
Impact Johnson has managed just a .502 OPS across 25 games at the big-league level this season. The Giants will announce a corresponding move prior to Tuesday's game in Colorado.
JUNE 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Swipes bag, scores twice Johnson went 0-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored in Monday's 14-4 win over the Pirates.
Impact Johnson made a rare start in center field with Pittsburgh sending southpaw Rich Hill to the mound. Since his May 11 recall, Johnson has gone 4-for-20 with three walks, two RBI and four runs scored over 13 contests. Now that Austin Slater's back from a hamstring strain, playing time is likely to be even thinner for Johnson, and it's very possible he could head back to Triple-A Sacramento once Joc Pederson (hand) or Thairo Estrada (wrist) are ready to return from the injured list.
MAY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Recalled from Triple-A The Giants recalled Johnson from Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Impact The 27-year-old outfielder will replace Austin Slater, who has landed back on the injured list with another left hamstring strain. Johnson went 3-for-20 (.150) in a 10-game stint with the Giants last month and probably isn't worth fantasy consideration despite his good speed.
MAY 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Activated, returns to Triple-A The Giants reinstated Johnson (concussion) from the 7-day injured list Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento.
Impact Johnson was placed on the IL on April 14 after experiencing concussion symptoms but was able to make a pair of rehab appearances with Sacramento over the weekend, going 2-for-5 with a double and two stolen bases. Prior to suffering the head injury, Johnson had been handling a short-side platoon role in center field, but Austin Slater has since beaten Johnson back from the IL and looks poised to handle those duties moving forward. Johnson will stick around at Sacramento, where he should get the chance to play on an everyday basis.
MAY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Lingering concussion symptoms Johnson is still experiencing concussion symptoms, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Impact He has passed concussion tests, but Johnson is apparently still dealing with some lingering symptoms. The outfielder has been out since mid-April after suffering a concussion when he collided with the outfield wall.
MAY 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
