Elliot Johnson: Mormon Athlete
Elliot Johnson is an American professional baseball player, currently playing utility infielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He has also played for the Cleveland Indians, the Atlanta Braves, the Kansas City Royals, and the Tampa Bay Rays.
Johnson signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on June 29, 2002, as a non-drafted free agent and played with the rookie-level Princeton Devil Rays. In 2005, he moved to the class-A minor-league affiliate of the Devil Rays, the Visalia Oaks. That same season, he was promoted to class AA with the Montgomery Biscuits and in 2006 with the AAA minor-league Durham Bulls. In 2008, he made the opening day roster for the Tampa Bay Rays. On April 5, 2008, he had four at bats and his first major league hit. He followed with 19 at bats and three hits over the course of seven games, and was sent back to Durham. He spent the next two seasons in the minors.
In 2010, batting .319 for Durham, he was selected to appear in the Triple-A All-Star game and was named most valuable player. In 2011, he made the opening-day roster for the Rays and on May 15, hit his first major league home run. He hit another on August 12. On February 5, 2013, he was designated for assignment and on February 12 was acquired by the Kansas City Royals. He was designated for assignment on August 15 and released four days later. On August 22, 2013, he was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves, where he played for one season before he became a free agent.
In January 2014, Johnson signed a contract with minor-league Cleveland Indians. With the contract came his invitation to Major League Spring Training, and he made the opening-day roster. On May 3, he was designated for assignment. He cleared waivers and went to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. In October 2014, he elected to be a free agent. On February 23, 2015, Johnson signed a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers and was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 31. The Dodgers assigned him to the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers.
Johnson was born on March 9, 1984, in Safford, Arizona. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and his wife, Nicole, are the parents of one child. His brothers Cedric, Leon, and Isaac each play baseball.
