Johnson has been on a meteoric rise throughout the minor leagues ever since he was drafted out of high school by the Tampa Bay Rays and returned from his LDS mission.
That rise came to a surprising climax on March 29, when Johnson was told he had made the final 25-man roster for the big-league club.
 Elliot Johnson was named to the Tampa Bay Rays’ 25-man roster March 29. Now he is living life in the big leagues. Johnson recorded his first major league hit against New York’s Andy Pettitte at Yankee Stadium on April 5. Contributed photo |
Johnson’s mother, Julie, immediately booked a flight to Baltimore to watch Tampa’s opening series against the Orioles.
Although he didn’t play in that series, Julie was still able to watch him warm up every night and see him in his major league uniform.
Things got more exciting when the Rays traveled to New York to play the Yankees. The series started on Friday, April 4, and Johnson was in the starting lineup Saturday afternoon.
Starting at designated hitter, Johnson came to the plate for his first major league at-bat in the second inning in front of 52,247 raucous fans at Yankee Stadium.
He also had the task of facing Yankee great Andy Pettitte, who has over 200 wins in his major league career.
“I got a little bit nervous when I was on deck,” Johnson said.
However, when he got to the plate, he said he wasn’t nervous at all. He drilled a pitch deep to center field but the ball was caught on the warning track.
In only his second at-bat in the majors, Johnson ripped a single to left field for his first hit.
After reaching first base, his first thought was, “I have to get the ball.”
His teammates played a prank on him by writing all over a fake ball, but Johnson now has the real thing in good hands.
Julie and her daughter, Lisa, were at the first six games of the year, and several other family members, including Johnson’s father, attended early games.
“That was priceless,” Johnson said of having his family there to support him.
Life in the major leagues is different. Instead of riding on buses everywhere (like he did in the minors), Johnson now rides on cushy charter airplanes where the players are served whatever food they want.
Being a rookie, however, means Johnson also has to carry things around for other players and buy beer for all the veterans when they get on a bus to ride to the hotel — but that’s not the worst of it.
“I was told I’m going to have to sing and dance (at some point),” he said. If that wasn’t bad enough, he will most likely be wearing either a dress or a Hooters outfit when that time comes.
On the field, Johnson is comfortable with sporadic play at multiple positions because he knows his current role is as a utility player.
It’s safe to say Julie wouldn’t have traded the experience of attending the first two series for anything.
“I’m going to remember it as a dream come true,” she said.
Comments
18 comment(s)Ian wrote on Jun 8, 2008 8:05 PM:
mwbruce wrote on Apr 28, 2008 7:56 PM:
OLD PLAYER wrote on Apr 27, 2008 10:09 PM:
Tim wrote on Apr 27, 2008 6:12 AM:
We never know the purpose of the talents He has given us. Not for us to judge...just excel and spread the gospel wherever we can. Maybe he can tract in the locker room or the hotel. "
Shane wrote on Apr 26, 2008 8:11 PM:
yo wrote on Apr 26, 2008 2:20 PM:
Don wrote on Apr 26, 2008 11:36 AM:
bill wrote on Apr 26, 2008 10:36 AM:
stuff wrote on Apr 26, 2008 9:00 AM:
Don wrote on Apr 25, 2008 4:08 AM:
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bill wrote on Apr 24, 2008 12:23 PM:
Rusty wrote on Apr 24, 2008 8:05 AM:
Gabriel wrote on Apr 23, 2008 11:58 PM:
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Drew wrote on Apr 23, 2008 1:06 AM: