Pierce Johnson

Pierce William Johnson (born May 10, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies and for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He was drafted by the Cubs in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft out of Missouri State University.

Amateur career
Johnson attended Faith Christian Academy in Arvada, Colorado, where he played baseball for three seasons on the varsity team. The Tampa Bay Rays selected him in the 15th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. He did not sign and attended Missouri State University, where he played college baseball for the Missouri State Bears. He finished his first year at Missouri State with a 6–5 win–loss record and a 4.76 earned run average (ERA) in $75 2/3$ innings pitched. In 2010 and 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs selected Johnson in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. In 2013, he went 11–6 with a 2.74 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 118 innings pitched. Prior to the 2014 season, he was ranked by Baseball America as the 87th best prospect in baseball. The Cubs added him to their 40-man roster after the 2015 season.

Johnson spent 2014 with both the Kane County Cougars and the Tennessee Smokies where he posted a 5–5 record with a 2.54 ERA. Johnson stayed with the Smokies during the 2015 season, where he posted a 6–2 record with a 2.08 ERA, holding batters to a .223 batting average. After his success in Tennessee, Johnson was promoted to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, where he posted a 4–6 record with a 6.14 ERA.

San Francisco Giants
On September 20, 2017, Johnson was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants.

In 2018, Johnson made 37 appearances out of the bullpen for the Giants, recording a 5.56 ERA with 36 strikeouts across $43 2⁄3$ innings pitched. On November 2, he was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats. However, Johnson rejected the assignment and subsequently elected free agency.

Hanshin Tigers
On December 8, 2018, Johnson signed with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). On December 2, 2019, he became a free agent.

San Diego Padres
On December 23, 2019, Johnson signed a two-year contract which includes a third-year club option with the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). In his first season with San Diego, Johnson recorded a 3-1 record and 2.70 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 20 innings. Johnson made 63 appearances for the Padres in 2021, logging a 3-4 record and 3.22 ERA with 77 strikeouts in $58 2⁄3$ innings pitched.

On May 9, 2022, Johnson was placed on the 60-day injured list with right elbow tendinitis. He was activated from the injured list on September 10.

Colorado Rockies
On December 13, 2022, Johnson signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Rockies. Johnson began the 2023 season as Colorado's primary closer, but struggled to a 7.50 ERA across 26 games. On June 9, 2023, the Rockies announced that Johnson would be removed from the closer role, with Justin Lawrence and Jake Bird named as candidates to fill the position.

Atlanta Braves
On July 23, 2023, Johnson was traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league prospects Victor Vodnik and Tanner Gordon. In 24 appearances for Atlanta, he posted a stellar 0.76 ERA with 32 strikeouts in $23 2⁄3$ innings of work. On October 25, Johnson signed a two–year, $14.25 million contract extension with the Braves.