PIERCE JOHNSON NEWS

Braves rally for seven in the eighth to begin defense of NL East crown with 9-3 win over Phillies

Matt Olson doubled three times, including a bases-loaded drive in a seven-run eighth inning that rallied the NL East champion Atlanta Braves past the Philadelphia Phillies 9-3 in t...

MARCH 29, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Braves re-sign RHP Pierce Johnson to $14.25 million, 2-year contract with option for '26

The Atlanta Braves have re-signed reliever Pierce Johnson to a $14.25 million, two-year contract in the first offseason move for the team that posted baseball’s best record this se...

OCTOBER 25, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pierce Johnson re-signs with Braves for 2 years, $14.25M The Braves on Wednesday signed right-hander Pierce Johnson to a two-year contract worth $14.25 million guaranteed, with a $7 million club op...

OCTOBER 25, 2023 • MLB.COM

Signs two-year extension Atlanta signed Johnson to a two-year, $14.25 million contract extension Wednesday.

Impact Johnson will make $7 million in both 2024 and 2025, and the new deal also includes a $7 million club option (or $250,000 buyout) for 2026. The 32-year-old right-hander was acquired from the Rockies this past July and went on to deliver a 0.76 ERA and 32:5 K:BB over his final 23.2 regular-season innings with the NL East champions. He then carried that over into the playoffs, logging three scoreless relief appearances in the best-of-five NLDS against the Phillies.

OCTOBER 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Collects hold No. 10 Johnson struck out two in a perfect seventh inning Thursday to record his 10th hold of the season in a win over the Cardinals.

Impact The former Rockies closer has been very effective in a set-up role for Atlanta, posting a 2.12 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 23:4 K:BB through 17 innings with a win and six holds in 18 appearances. The NL East leaders have a deep bullpen, and Johnson would likely be behind A.J. Minter, Kirby Yates and others in the pecking order for saves should anything happen to Raisel Iglesias, but he's still producing deep-league fantasy value in his current role.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

New Brave Pierce Johnson: 'I can't wait to wear the 'A' ... and throw some strikes' The Braves have realistic World Series aspirations and think Johnson can help them achieve those.

JULY 25, 2023 • AJC.COM

Braves land relievers Pierce Johnson and Taylor Hearn in trades with Rockies and Rangers - The Boston Globe The league-best Braves bolstered their bullpen on Monday.

JULY 24, 2023 • BOSTONGLOBE.COM

Pierce Johnson's Path With Contending Braves Starts With a Big 'If' The pattern of a reliever bolstering a playoff-bound bullpen persists, but one addition to his pitch rotation could be a spark for Atlanta’s...

JULY 24, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Why Braves traded for Pierce Johnson, Taylor Hearn, and are they done dealing? The Braves acquired right-handed reliever Pierce Johnson from the Rockies for right-handed pitching prospects Victor Vodnik and Tanner Gordo...

JULY 24, 2023 • AJC.COM

Braves bulk up bullpen by landing Pierce Johnson, Taylor Hearn in trades The Braves gave up pitching prospects Victor Vodnik and Tanner Gordon to land Johnson. They got Hearn for cash considerations.

JULY 24, 2023 • PENNLIVE.COM

Rockies trade RHP Pierce Johnson to Braves The Colorado Rockies traded reliever Pierce Johnson to the Atlanta Braves for two pitching prospects on Monday.

JULY 24, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM

Braves land relievers Pierce Johnson and Taylor Hearn in trades with Rockies and Rangers

The NL-leading Atlanta Braves traded for a pair of relievers, acquiring right-hander Pierce Johnson from Colorado and lefty Taylor Hearn from Texas

JULY 24, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rox net 2 pitching prospects from Braves for Pierce Johnson The Colorado Rockies announced on Monday they have acquired right-handed pitchers Victor Vodnik and Tanner Gordon from the Atlanta Braves in...

JULY 24, 2023 • MLB.COM

Report: Rockies trade RHP Pierce Johnson to Braves The Colorado Rockies traded reliever Pierce Johnson to the Atlanta Braves for two pitching prospects, MLB Network reported Monday

JULY 24, 2023 • DEADSPIN.COM

Braves to add reliever Johnson in trade with Rockies (source) The Braves are poised to add to their bullpen depth with a trade for right-handed reliever Pierce Johnson, a source told MLB.com on Monday m...

JULY 24, 2023 • MLB.COM

Traded to Atlanta Atlanta has acquired Johnson from the Rockies in exchange for Victor Vodnik and Tanner Gordon, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Impact Johnson has offered a mixed bag for the Rockies this season, posting a 6.00 ERA and 1.85 WHIP but also striking out 58 batters across 39 relief innings. The 32-year-old boasts an 11.3 K/9 rate for his career and clearly Atlanta wanted some of that swing-and-miss ability for their bullpen. Johnson should operate in a setup role.

JULY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Surrenders game-deciding homer Johnson (1-4) allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits to take the loss Saturday against the Tigers.

Impact Johnson entered the game in the 10th inning with the score tied at 2-2. However, he served up a single and home run to the first two batters he faced. That snapped a five-appearance scoreless streak for Johnson, during which he maintained an impressive 9:2 K:BB across five frames. Justin Lawrence is seemingly the team's primary closer, though Johnson tallied a save Friday against the Tigers and could continue to see chances moving forward.

JULY 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up save Johnson allowed a hit and struck out one without walking a batter in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 8-5 win over the Tigers.

Impact Johnson had yielded the bulk of recent save opportunities to Justin Lawrence, who hadn't pitched since Wednesday. This was Johnson's fifth consecutive scoreless outing, and it earned him his first save since June 13. The right-hander has a 6.00 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 49:20 K:BB with 13 saves and two holds through 33 innings this season. Johnson will likely remain in the late-inning mix despite his shaky numbers. He was the closer for the first two months of the season, but he'd likely have to settle for being part of a committee if he continues to get ninth-inning assignments.

JULY 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nabs extra-inning save Johnson struck out one while recording the final two outs of the 10th inning Tuesday to pick up his 12th save of the season in a 7-6 win over the Red Sox.

Impact The right-hander was removed from the closer role last week after posting a brutal 18.00 ERA over six appearances in late May and early June, but with Jake Bird, Justin Lawrence and even Daniel Bard all having gotten the call in the first nine innings Tuesday, Johnson was the last man standing in the bullpen in the 10th and got the job done. None of the Rockies' other options for saves have been pitching particularly well lately -- Bird has a 7.20 ERA over his last eight appearances, while Lawrence has a 5.59 mark during his last eight -- so if Johnson can string together a few more effective performances, he could reclaim the job.

JUNE 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Loses closer role Rockies manager Bud Black announced Friday that Johnson has been removed from the closer role, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Impact Johnson officially lost the job after blowing another save in brutal fashion Thursday afternoon against the Giants. He owns a wretched 7.50 ERA in 26 appearances (24 innings) this season. Black named Justin Lawrence and Jake Bird as possible candidates to replace Johnson in the ninth-inning gig.

JUNE 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Closer role to be addressed Rockies manager Bud Black said after Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Giants that Johnson's status as the primary closer will be "addressed," Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Impact Johnson was called into Thursday's game with the Rockies leading 4-3 in the top of the ninth inning and promptly gave up three earned runs on two hits and two walks while recording only two outs. He's blown two saves in the last week and his season ERA has risen to 7.50. Justin Lawrence, Jake Bird, Brent Suter and Brad Hand are among the other options at closer for Colorado. Daniel Bard could maybe even get another shot.

JUNE 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rockies swept in four-game series by Arizona for first time since 2002 as Pierce Johnson blows save in 5-4 defeat The Rockies were a strike away from victory in Thursday’s matinee at Chase Field but folded instead when closer Pierce Johnson blew his firs...

JUNE 1, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Rockies swept in four-game series by Arizona for first time since 2002 as Pierce Johnson blows save in 5-4 defeat The Rockies were a strike away from victory in Thursday’s matinee at Chase Field but folded instead when closer Pierce Johnson blew his firs...

JUNE 1, 2023 • SACBEE.COM

Blows first save Johnson (0-2) blew the save and took the loss Thursday against the Diamondbacks. He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning.

Impact Johnson had the Diamondbacks down to their final strike before surrendering a double to Ketel Marte, followed by Corbin Carroll's walk-off base hit. It's Johnson's first blown save of the year despite his 6.85 ERA and 1.88 WHIP through 22.1 innings. While the 32-year-old righty has struggled, Daniel Bard has pitched to a 0.57 ERA. Johnson's grip on the closing job may be slipping.

JUNE 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Clean inning for save Johnson pitched a perfect inning to earn the save in Saturday's 10-7 win over the Mets.

Impact Johnson melted down in a non-save situation in his last outing Thursday, but he responded well. He needed just six pitches (five strikes) to set down the Mets' 3-4-5 hitters. While pitching at Coors Field can lead to the occasional blow-up, Johnson has converted all 11 of his save chances this season. He's at a 6.23 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 29:13 K:BB through 21.2 innings.

MAY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE