Daniel “Jet” Johnson Is Living God, Family & Baseball

Daniel “Jet” Johnson Is Living God, Family & Baseball

by | Jul 28, 2021 | THE LEAD OFF

God, Family and Baseball are the three things that Indians outfielder Daniel “Jet” Johnson lives for.

While he battles to earn a permanent spot on the Big League roster, he has already found success in the world of entrepreneurship.

Johnson is getting a chance to prove himself at the Major League level as his Cleveland Guardians have been decimated with injuries this year.

 

 


The Guardians recently lost fellow MLBbro Josh Naylor who is out the remainder of the season after suffering a gruesome leg injury.

 

Off the field Johnson is already proving he is more than an athlete.

He and some friends from his hometown created a sportswear brand called “God, Family, Baseball.”

 It is a movement as well as a lifestyle, striving to see young talent work hard and succeed both on and off the field.  

Johnson is joined by MLBbro J.R. Davis, who was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the15th round of the 2016 draft out of Oklahoma State. Armani Smith, an outfielder in the San Francisco Giants organization is also down with the team. 


From t-shirts, hats, workout wear, socks, fanny-packs and of course masks, G.F.B. has swag for any occasion.

 

 

The brand also continually gives back to their community.  During May of 2020, GFB held their third annual homeless give back where they provided Hot plates, hygiene products and clothes to over 100 people in Vallejo, California.

 


They also post different motivational quotes, workout videos and highlights from each other’s journey to the Bigs.

 


On the field Johnson is trying to stand alone and make a name for himself.  He was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of New Mexico State University.

After batting .515 in his final year at Jesse M. Bethel High School in his hometown of Vallejo, California he went undrafted in the 2013 draft and decided to attend Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.

During his freshman season he recorded a .274 batting average and two home runs before transferring.

At one point Johnson was the 10th ranked player in the Nationals system and even won the teams Minor League Player of the Year award in 2017.

 

However, in November of 2018 he was sent to Cleveland in a deal for veteran catcher Yan Gomes.  

Johnson played in the 2019 Futures Game and was promoted to the 40-man roster at the end of that season.

He debuted in the Majors on July 25th of 2020 but struggled at the plate, batting just .083 in just five games.

 

 

This season Johnson was brought up to help platoon in right field for the injured Eddie Rosario.  

Through 15 games he has a .205 batting average with 8 runs. He also has two home runs, the first of his career coming in front of his friends and family at the Oakland Coliseum earlier this July.


Even though his Indians are nearly 10 games back of the Chicago White Sox for first place in the American League Central, they are only five back of the final wild card spot.

Since injuries have derailed their season, especially in the starting rotation, it is very possible the Indians become sellers at the trade deadline.

 If that is the case, Johnson should get multiple opportunities to prove he can be a part of a potential championship lineup going forward as the Guardians establish the foundation for a new future.