Elliot Johnson

2013

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2012

Johnson filled a utility role for the Rays, getting the majority of his playing time at shortstop. His .194 batting average coupled with a 29.3 percent strikeout rate shows his limited upside although he did have past success on the basepaths in the minors. The problem for him is getting on the field and making it to first base to begin with. Look for him to either fill a utility role for the Rays again or head to Triple-A Durham to get regular playing time.

2011

Johnson has been a career minor leaguer to this point, showing flashes of power and decent speed (30 stolen bases in 36 attempts at Triple-A last season). The problem for Johnson is that there is no clear path to playing time with the Rays and he likely projects as a utility player at best. If he makes the team out of the spring it will be in that role, but he needs an injury or slump from someone ahead of him on the depth chart to work himself into playing time.

2010

Johnson has some pop in his bat as evidenced by his 11 homers in 230 at-bats for Triple-A Durham. It'll be hard for him to find time with the Rays with the addition of Sean Rodriguez and a breakout season from Ben Zobrist. Expect him to be at Triple-A Durham come Opening Day.

2009

Johnson started the year on the big league roster with Ben Zobrist stuck on the DL, but he didn't hit much and was never a serious callup candidate again after he was sent down in April. He might help some team in a utility role in 2009, but it's not clear the Rays will keep him on the 40-man roster.

2008

While Johnson is fast and has some pop in his bat, he had a lot of trouble getting on base at Triple-A last season; that's a lot of strikeouts. With the Rays likely moving Akinori Iwamura to second base next year, Johnson probably will be back at Durham in 2008, and he'll have one more make-or-break year to show he could produce at the big-league level. If Iwamura successfully transitions from third base, the Rays would no longer have a need to rush a second baseman to the majors, so Johnson may now need a change of scenery in order to make the bigs.

2007

Johnson stole 43 bases in the minors in both 2004 and 2005, but dropped to 15 steals last year—in 30 attempts. That was in part due to a midseason groin injury. He'll likely spend 2007 in Triple-A, but Johnson might suddenly become Tampa Bay's second baseman if they trade Jorge Cantu or move him to first base.

2006

Johnson stole 43 bases in 53 tries in the minors last season. He had a great first half of the year at High-A, but struggled later in the year at Double-A. Johnson likely will start 2006 back at Double-A, and is at least two years away from a serious shot at the bigs.

2005

Johnson faded fast after a good start at low Single-A in 2004. He'll move up a level in 2005, but other than those stolen bases, there's not much to get excited about.