Johnson living dream in major leagues

By Brian Wright
Sports Editor
Published on Monday, April 21, 2008 10:43 AM MST

Elliot Johnson now lives in a world where he gets in trouble if he carries his own luggage up to his hotel room. Such is life in Major League Baseball for the Thatcher native who was born in Safford.

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

“I was smiling from ear to ear,” he said. “You work your whole life for something, and it finally comes true.”

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.

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Comments

19 comment(s)

Robert Payne wrote on Sep 13, 2009 7:10 PM:

" I am very active in the church and friends with Julie. As to playing ball on Sunday have people considered how much good a role model can be in this type of position. Would anyone prevent a doctor from saving a life on Sunday or as Jesus healed on the sabbath. The correct decision for someone with this much talent and influence is to play on Sunday and pray before each game. Just kidding, but not really, for is it not more important who we really are. . Go Elliot, congratulations, keep doing what you're doing! "

Ian wrote on Jun 8, 2008 8:05 PM:

" Elliot is my cousin im 11 years old and I was so happy to see him go to the Majors. Leon and the other brothers like Cedric also got drafted. I was so sad to see him go down.-Ian "

mwbruce wrote on Apr 28, 2008 7:56 PM:

" Good luck in the Majors, but be sure your team mates know your values, I hope they don't include beer and hooters. "

OLD PLAYER wrote on Apr 27, 2008 10:09 PM:

" You people are funny. I played ball with Elliot. He has a great heart and great love for the game of baseball. He was always fun to be around and now is fun to fallow in the big leagues. So mission or no mission. He is awesome person and I couldn't be any prouder to have played ball with him. Thanks for being a great example to all those who know you and your brother and show that you can set goals and make them. Best of luck to you. GO RAYS... "

Tim wrote on Apr 27, 2008 6:12 AM:

" No worse than a traveling salesman flying Sunday evening to his next presentation, a doctor working the ER on Sunday or a trucker over the road driving on the sabbath. All have the ups and downs of having a job. I say clean up with a few million, invest wisely and continue to serve the Lord.

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:

" I have to say Don you don't understand the value of a good young man and his example in the Majors. His job is to play baseball now, he has served a mission and we are supposed to be examples to the world, not just other members of the church. Grow-up and step out of your hole. I light on the candlestick can not be hid. You are a bitter person and judge others incorrectly. How does it feel to have someone judge you? Keep up the good work Elliot! "

yo wrote on Apr 26, 2008 2:20 PM:

" eliott didnt serve a mission however his younger brother did.. and was drafted as well.. probably where the mix up is at.. eliott is a great guy though and i am proud to know him. "

Don wrote on Apr 26, 2008 11:36 AM:

" This is the role model I want for my sons. In 1995, BYU football standout Eli Herring made it clear to NFL teams that he would not be playing professional football. His reasoning? Sunday is the Lord's day and he was choosing to keep it holy. Now, six years later, Herring is a math teacher at Mountain View High School in Orem, UT. He and his wife of eight years have four children. His church calling keeps him busy, as do his familial responsibilities. Without hesitation, he says he does not regret his decision to forego professional football. "

bill wrote on Apr 26, 2008 10:36 AM:

" wow! there are are ignorant church members everywhere i guess. being a former pro athlete who served a mission i know first hand what its like. what some people may not understand, and should as members, that some actually do play for the love of the game and reaching ones highest potential. sound familiar? like the gospel maybe? both are possible and guess what, its ok to realize the lord will bless us in our endeavors. PLEASE COME DOWN FROM YOUR SOAPBOX, THANKS "

stuff wrote on Apr 26, 2008 9:00 AM:

" Hate to bring the bad news, but he never served a mission, his brother Leon did in Russia, but Elliot never did. Elliot has been a great role model for the valley in showing that hard work and perseverance really do pay off. Thanks Elliot and congratulations! "

Don wrote on Apr 25, 2008 4:08 AM:

" Sorry to the lone negative, but I am glad my sons did not use professional athletes as role models. I am more inspired by the young man who turns down a professional athletic career in order to serve the Lord in any calling....hard to do when you are on the road most weekends playing sports. The money and glory are not as important as doing what God has commanded us to do. What would Jesus or any church leader do? These are the role models we should look to! "

Christian Sturm wrote on Apr 24, 2008 11:00 PM:

" good on him, nice to see a member of the church succeed in a very competitive environment like the Major Leagues....does he play sundays? "

bill wrote on Apr 24, 2008 12:23 PM:

" hes played 6 minor league seasons and signed as an undrafted free agent out of high school, now just 24? where did the mission come in to play? keep livin the dream "

Rusty wrote on Apr 24, 2008 8:05 AM:

" I have a son who has the same dream of playing one day in the majors, its great to read this story as he wants to serve a mission also, and he can see that both are possible. Thank you Elliot for leading by example. "

Gabriel wrote on Apr 23, 2008 11:58 PM:

" It would be hard to serve a mission after being drafted to the Major Leagues. Glad he didn't lose his ability to play well. Good luck to him! "

Emily wrote on Apr 23, 2008 10:10 PM:

" Very cool to see good people accomplishing great things! Thanks for the example! "

Mel wrote on Apr 23, 2008 5:18 PM:

" Good for him! It's nice to see the good ones have the success they deserve. We need more players like that in the pros so the younger kids can have someone decent to look up to. It's just good for the game. "

Doug wrote on Apr 23, 2008 3:12 PM:

" What a great story! I hope he does well. He put his faith ahead of his own ambitions and it paid off. Now no matter what happens in a major league career he can say he put first things first. "

Drew wrote on Apr 23, 2008 1:06 AM:

" Glad to see him in the majors! He has a fan in me. Good luck! "

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