Baseball's Rob Johnson Called Up To Major Leagues
9/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Sept. 5, 2007
NEW YORK - Former University of Houston catcher Rob Johnson made his Major League debut with the Seattle Mariners Wednesday evening against the New York Yankees.
Johnson, who was called up to the Mariners on Saturday, entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning as a defensive replacement. In the top of the ninth, the Butte, Mon., native flew out to center field in his first Major League plate appearance.
Johnson became the 21st former Cougar to reach the Major League and the first since Michael Bourn joined the Philadelphia Phillies in 2006. He also became the sixth Cougar Major Leaguer who played for current UH head coach Rayner Noble.
Although Johnson played only season for the Cougars in 2004, he wasted little time in making his impact felt. Splitting time at catcher and in right field, Johnson finished that year with a .341 batting average, seven home runs and a team-best 46 RBIs.
He also swiped 14 stolen bases to rank second on the team and finished with only a pair of errors in more than 300 total chances.
Johnson was honored as the C-USA Hitter of the Week on May 17, 2004. During a weekend series at former C-USA rival Louisville, he went 6-for-13 with four runs, eight RBIs and three RBIs. In the series finale against the Cardinals, Johnson batted 2-for-3 with two home runs and a career-best-tying five RBIs to help lead the Cougars to the series win.
Following the 2004 campaign, Johnson was taken in the fourth round of the first-year player draft by the Mariners.