Ronny Johnson
Pitcher / First baseman
Born: (1962-11-08) November 8, 1962
San Jose, California, United States
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Ronny George Johnson (born November 8, 1962)[1] is an American-Australian former professional baseball player and Olympic competitor. Listed at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) and 190 pounds (86 kg) during his professional career, he threw and batted right-handed. He is an inductee of the Baseball Australia Hall of Fame.

Biography

Johnson played high school baseball in Canyon Country, California, as a pitcher and right fielder.[2] In 1981, Johnson played college baseball for Pierce Junior College in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, where he pitched in 11 games (six starts), recording a 2–5 win–loss record with a 4.05 earned run average (ERA) and one save.[3][4] He also appeared in 24 games as a designated hitter, accruing a .265 batting average with five home runs and 20 runs batted in (RBIs).[4] He was selected in the second round of the January 1982 winter MLB draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.[5][1] He signed with the Blue Jays organization in May 1982.[3]

Johnson played in Minor League Baseball from 1982 to 1985, for farm teams of the Blue Jays and Texas Rangers.[1] He pitched in 65 games (27 starts) compiling a 13–15 record with 4.52 ERA while striking out 159 batters in 229 innings pitched.[1] He did not play above the Single-A level.[1]

Johnson subsequently played professional baseball in Australia from 1989 to 1999.[6] He competed for the Australia national baseball team in the 1998 Baseball World Cup, held in Italy.[7] At age 37, Johnson competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics for Australia, appearing in six games as a first baseman, designated hitter, and pinch hitter.[8] During the Olympic baseball tournament, the Australian team compiled a 2–5 record, finishing seventh in the field of eight teams. Johnson was inducted to the Baseball Australia Hall of Fame in 2005.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ron Johnson Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "Cowboy Hitting Destroys Bell-Jeff, 10-0". The Signal. Newhall, California. 21 March 1980. p. 8. Retrieved 4 February 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 "Draftee Ron Johnson Signs With Blue Jays". The Cincinnati Enquirer. AP. 20 May 1982. p. C-8. Retrieved 4 February 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 "Jays sign second pick from free-agent draft". Tampa Bay Times. 20 May 1982. p. 13. Retrieved 4 February 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Baseball: Winter Draft". Los Angeles Times. 13 January 1982. p. III-11. Retrieved 4 February 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 "Australian Baseball Hall of Fame". baseball.com.au. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "Athletes: Ron Johnson". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 August 2000. p. 74. Retrieved 3 February 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Ronny Johnson Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
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