Nick Johnson – Credit Bazooka Joe

Trivia question Nats fans – Who produced the greatest offensive season in Washington Nationals history? While Bryce Harper is on pace to shatter the franchise record this season, and Alfonso Soriano famously produced a 40-40 season, the man known as Nick “The Stick” Johnson in 2006 overwhelmed the National League with a .948 OPS while playing in cavernous RFK Stadium.

Prior to establishing himself as a fixture in Washington baseball, Johnson was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 3rd round, 89th overall, in the 2006 MLB Draft. After an impressive minor league career, including appearances in the 1999 and 2001 Futures Game, Johnson debuted in the majors with the Yankees on August 21, 2001. Johnson had a brief 23 game cameo with the Yankees that season, setting himself up for a starting position in the Big Apple the following year.

His rookie season in 2002 saw Johnson establish himself as a major leaguer, as he hit .243/.347/.402 with 15 home runs and 58 runs batted in while playing 129 games. The next year Nick broke out as one of the best young hitters in the league, hitting .284/.422/.472 with 14 home runs in 96 games played due to various injuries. After the season the Yankees packaged Johnson, along with OF Juan Rivera and LHP Randy Choate, to Montreal for star RHP Javier Vazquez.

Relocating to Canada did little to help Johnson with his injury issues, as he struggled with a back injury and a broken cheekbone, which allowed him to play in only 73 games in 2004. In this injury-riddled season Johnson struggled offensively hitting only .251/.359/.398 with 7 home runs and 16 doubles.

Following the 2004 season, the Montreal Expos relocated their franchise to Washington D.C. and became the Washington Nationals. The move back to the United States was a boon to his career, as he played in 131 games in the inaugural season for the Nationals, hitting .289/.408/.479 with 15 home runs, 35 doubles and driving in 74 runs.

Prior to Opening Day 2006, the Nationals and Johnson agreed to a 3-year $16.5 million contract, establishing him as one of the cornerstones of the franchise. 2006 saw Johnson have a career year, playing in 147 games and hitting .290/.428/.520 with 23 home runs, 46 doubles and 110 walks against 99 strikeouts – Arguably the greatest offensive season in Washington Nationals history.

Unfortunately on September 23, 2006 at Shea Stadium Johnson collided with RF Austin Kearns to create one of the most gruesome injuries in recent baseball history, shattering Johnson’s femur. This injury led to a premature finish to his season and forced him to spend the entire 2007 season on the disabled list.
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Johnson returned to start for the Nationals on Opening Day 2008 and drove in the first run in Nationals Park history, doubling off Atlanta starter Tim Hudson to drive in Cristian Guzman. Sadly his 1st AB of 2008 was probably the highlight of his baseball year, as Johnson tore a ligament in his wrist which terminated his season after 38 games. For the year Johnson hit only .220/.415/.431 with 5 home runs.

Again Nick Johnson returned from an injury to start at first base for the Nationals on Opening Day 2009 and was extremely productive for Washington, playing 98 games while hitting .295/.408/.402 and 6 home runs. However due to Johnson’s impending free agency after the season and the poor win-loss record for the Nationals in 2009, Washington traded Johnson to the Marlins at the trade deadline for prospect LHP Aaron Thompson. Johnson continued to played well down the stretch for the Marlins, hitting .279/.477/.413 with 10 extra base hits and 36 walks against only 18 strikeouts in 35 games played.

Now a free agent, Johnson signed a 1-year $5.5 million contract to return to the Bronx and play for the New York Yankees. Again Johnson injured his wrist in early May of that season, forcing him to the disabled list and finishing his season with only 24 games played for New York, slugging only .167/.388/.306 and 2 home runs. The Yankees understandably declined his option after the season, making him a free agent.

Johnson spent that winter seeking a major league deal but eventually was forced to accept a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians. Johnson struggled all year in the minors for the Indians and was never promoted to Cleveland.

The following winter Johnson signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles with an invitation to spring training. Due to a strong spring Johnson earned a spot on the Opening Day 25-man roster and went north with the Orioles. Johnson struggled in his return to the majors, going hitless in his first 28 at-bats for Baltimore and eventually injuring his wrist again in June, which ended his season. Johnson played only 38 games in 2012 for Baltimore, hitting .207/.324/.391 for the Orioles.

After three consecutive difficult, injury-filled seasons, Nick Johnson decided to retire from baseball in January of 2013.  Johnson finished his 10-year major league career with a .268/.399/.441 batting line with 95 home runs and 398 runs batted in, along with the reputation as a sterling defensive first baseman.

While there is a feeling of “what if” surrounding his career due to his extensive injury history, Nick Johnson was one of the best two-way first baseman in the National League for close to a decade. Sadly he did not participate in the recent success of the franchise, but Nick Johnson was one of the first true superstars in Washington Nationals history and deserves to be remembered as such.  Here’s hoping #24 receives his rightful recognition and is placed in the Washington Nationals Ring of Honor very soon.