Kelly Johnson May Be Perfect Fit Back with the Braves

Kelly Johnson is heading back to where it all began. Johnson inked a minor league deal with the Braves. He has an invite to spring training where he stands a very good chance of making this rebuilding Braves squad.

Johnson was drafted as an outfielder in the first round of the 2000 draft by the Braves. After a quick stint as a left fielder in 2005, Johnson returned to the minors to hone his skills at second base. He returned to the majors in 2007, this time as the starting second baseman for the Braves.

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Johnson had a nice little run and looked like he could pan out to be a perennial .270-type hitter with 15-20 home run power. He exploded in 2010, his first year with the Arizona Diamondbacks, for his career best season. Johnson batted .284 with 26 home runs and 71 RBI that season. Then the wheels fell off.

The second baseman was shipped to Toronto and seemingly forgot how to make contact. Since 2011, Johnson has become more prone to striking out as his average has lowered each season, bottoming out at an atrocious .215 last season. He spent 2014 on three rosters, so that certainly didn’t help his cause.

Now 32, Johnson finds himself in an ideal landing spot. The Braves are rebuilding. While they retool their minor league system and infuse their roster with young players, they need a veteran presence on the bench. Quad-A hitter Zoilo Almonte was acquired to man left field and he has done nothing in his major league stints to prove that he can stick. Despite bringing in Jonny Gomes late Thursday night, he doesn’t pose a significant threat. Chris Johnson, a year after batting .321, returned to reality slashing .263/.292/.361 last season. Johnson’s ability at third base helps his cause. Second base currently seems full with Alberto Callaspo expected to start and Jace Peterson and Phil Gosselin waiting in the wings, but Johnson’s versatility can land him a spot on the bench.

Johnson is no sure thing to make the Braves. If he can put together a solid spring, he is the type of player the Braves can bring on for a one-year deal while they rebuild and dump at little cost when the time is right. Perhaps a return home is what Johnson needs to reinvigorate his career.