Orioles sign Daniel Johnson to minor league deal

The Orioles focused on outfield depth this afternoon by signing Daniel Johnson to a minor league contract.

Johnson, 28, spent last summer in the Padres system and batted a combined .271/.348/.469 with 28 doubles, four triples, 19 home runs and 73 RBIs in 126 games between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso. He posted a .296 average and .967 OPS in 28 games in the Pacific Coast League.

The Nationals drafted Johnson in the fifth round in 2016 out of New Mexico State University. They traded him to Cleveland two years later in the Yan Gomes deal, and the Mets purchased his contract in 2022.

The adventure continued for Johnson, who was released two months later and signed by the Nationals. The Padres signed him as a free agent in February 2023.

The extent of Johnson’s major league exposure is 35 games with Cleveland in 2020-21, when he went 18-for-89 with four home runs and five RBIs. He’s a career .269/.335/.449 hitter with 144 doubles, 29 triples, 89 homers, 339 RBIs and 108 stolen bases in seven minor league seasons and 679 games.

Johnson has one minor league option remaining. He bats and throws left-handed and can play all three outfield spots.

Outfielders Colton Cowser, Heston Kjerstad and Kyle Stowers also hit from the left side and played in the majors last season.

The Orioles still haven't announced their spring training invites.

* The Orioles arranged a luncheon this afternoon to announce the naming of their press box in honor of longtime Baltimore baseball writer and official scorer Jim Henneman.

The team will formally dedicate it later during a special ceremony, after which it will forever be known as the "Jim Henneman Press Box."

Perfect.

Henneman, 88, has covered Baltimore sports in eight decades. He's pretty much seen it all. And no one carries more knowledge of the sport than Henny. He's a walking encyclopedia. 

He's also a softie, mentioning yesterday how he cries at weddings and of course would get choked up by the announcement and the fuss made over him.

Henneman’s writing career began at the Baltimore News-Post in 1958. Ten years later, he was named the Baltimore Bullets’ public relations director. He returned to the renamed Baltimore News-American as Orioles beat writer and was there until 1979, when he moved to The Evening Sun and The Baltimore Sun. He also was primary official scorer at Orioles home games from 1997-2019.

The Baltimore native attended Loyola College and Calvert Hall College High School, where as a pitcher he faced future Hall of Famer Al Kaline.

I grew up reading Henneman at the News American – my parents had the paper delivered to our Severn home - and later at the Sun. His Earl Weaver stories can keep you entertained for hours.

Henneman has four children, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The number of friends is immeasurable. I’m proud to be counted among them, and touched that he included me in his speech, saying how fun it's been to see me become a grandfather. And knowing how much fun I'm having with it.

My turn to get choked up.

Jim is a sweet man who is most deserving of this honor. And he had no idea it was happening until he walked into a room on the fourth floor of the warehouse, saw rows of seats filled by local media, and heard his longtime friend, former PR director and current director of Orioles alumni Bill Stetka begin a speech - which concluded with the unveiling of the plaque.

All of us gathered around Jim for handshakes, hugs and a big group photo. I told Jim that I loved him, which otherwise wouldn't have happened. Also perfect.