Kelly Johnson’s young son pushed for his return to Braves
We often overlook the toll that the unpredictable life of a professional athlete can take on the athletes themselves and especially their families. In a moment’s notice, the athlete’s life and the lives of those who depend on them can change dramatically, whether it’s via a trade or a team’s decision to let that player walk away.
As a result of that harsh reality, families can be uprooted multiple times in just a few months and parents can be away from their families for weeks at a time. It can be harsh at times, but it’s what they signed up for and what their families have to be prepared to deal with.
[Elsewhere: Freed from Marlins, Dan Jennings lands in Nationals front office]
Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s ever easy. Case in point, two year ago, the uncertainty took a great toll on Cole Johnson, the young son of veteran major leaguer Kelly Johnson. During that 2014 season alone, Kelly Johnson suited up for the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles in succession. Prior to that, Johnson also played for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012 and Tampa Bay Rays in 2013, meaning he completed the AL East tour in three seasons.
That’s a lot of movement for one player, and it meant Johnson spent a lot of time away from his family, who stayed back at their suburban home near Atlanta. That time away prompted a then four-year-old Cole to ask his father to stop playing following 2014. Kelly Johnson didn’t stop playing. Instead, he signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves, which meant he’d be closer to home.
Location was a big part of it anyway. Johnson also hoped for an opportunity, which he received, and some stability, which unfortunately did not come. In July, Johnson was traded to the New York Mets, and that’s where he finished the season. That put Kelly Johnson back at square one as he entered free agency again this offseason. He knew he wasn’t ready to walk away, but also knew he didn’t want to be far away from his family.
This time, though, Cole didn’t urge his dad to retire. Instead, he played agent to a degree, suggesting a return to the Braves. And that’s where Johnson ended up signing another one-year deal this week.
“It was completely unprovoked,” Kelly Johnson told MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. “It wasn’t as if I was like, ‘Hey do you want me to play for the Braves?’ It was more like he was just saying, ‘Hey Dad, I want you to play for the Braves again.”
What Cole wanted is what Cole got. Johnson is now back again with the organization that drafted him 38th overall in the 2000 draft and developed him into an everyday infielder. Johnson spent nine seasons in the Braves organization during his first go-round, a little less than half of which were spent in the big leagues. He ended up making Atlanta his home for his family, and now he’s back for the third time in 2016.
[Elsewhere: Nationals acquire Ben Revere from Blue Jays for Drew Storen]
“The people that are running the organization were there my first time through, so it’s like family,” Johnson said. “It was just a nice feeling to come back last year and see all of those faces and just be very comfortable. Honestly, it kind of pushes me a little bit. There’s some motivation to be at home and also to kind of show off and do well for guys who were there with me at the beginning.”
While overlooking the toll this life takes on athletes, we also overlook the comfort that familiarity breeds. When we think we don’t understand why someone would take less money to stay with or play for a certain team, we should always know that comfort played a role.
For Kelly Johnson and his family, it played a key role. And though there’s no guarantee this stint with Atlanta will last any longer than the second, we know his mind will be at ease every night he’s sleeping in his own bed.
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
– – – – – – –
Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
