There have been many great pitching seasons during the 2009 MLB season. The National League has especially had its great share of pitchers. While Lincecum, Cain, and Carpenter all get their due, Josh Johnson's season has gone largely unnoticed.
Since returning from Tommy John Surgery in 2008, Josh is 19-3, with 217 Ks in 241.1 Innings, anchoring the Marlins staff that has the Fish within 5 games of the Phillies in the NL East and within 2 games of Colorado in the NL Wild Card race.
Johnson simply hasn't been talked about much when discussing this year's Cy Young contenders, largely due to the enormously successful season of Tim Lincecum, who seems to get better as the season progresses. Johnson has made his mark though.
He was drafted straight out of Jenks High School in Jenks, Oklahoma by the Florida Marlins in the 4th round of the 2002 draft. He spent almost three years in the minors seeing mild success, making the Double-A Southern League All-Star team in 2005, before getting called up to the Marlins in September of 2005. In 2005, he pitched 4 games, starting one, with 12.1 Innings Pitched, 10 Ks, and a 3.65 ERA.
The next season, Johnson found great success on the mound. The rookie finished with a 12-7 win-loss record and a 3.10 earned run average, almost best in the National League. This is a huge feat for any rookie pitcher, and if not for the fine performances of teammates Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla, Johnson easily could have won a rookie of the year award that season.
The next season told a different story. After dealing with a nagging elbow injury, Johnson couldn't find his form, beginning the season on a horrible note. This is when the Tommy John surgery took place, and Johnson recovered very quickly, returning to the mound during the summer of 2008.
The rest? It's history. Tonight, Johnson got another great start, going 7.1 innings, giving up only one hit, one earned run, and racking up 11 Ks. With a Mid-90s fastball, a strong slider, and a solid change-up, and being an imposing 6'7'' he's a huge reason for the Marlins being in contention.
Much of the Marlins' resurgence in 2009 should be credited to Johnson. Every successful team needs an ace, and the Marlins have one in Johnson.
Since returning from Tommy John Surgery in 2008, Josh is 19-3, with 217 Ks in 241.1 Innings, anchoring the Marlins staff that has the Fish within 5 games of the Phillies in the NL East and within 2 games of Colorado in the NL Wild Card race.
Johnson simply hasn't been talked about much when discussing this year's Cy Young contenders, largely due to the enormously successful season of Tim Lincecum, who seems to get better as the season progresses. Johnson has made his mark though.
He was drafted straight out of Jenks High School in Jenks, Oklahoma by the Florida Marlins in the 4th round of the 2002 draft. He spent almost three years in the minors seeing mild success, making the Double-A Southern League All-Star team in 2005, before getting called up to the Marlins in September of 2005. In 2005, he pitched 4 games, starting one, with 12.1 Innings Pitched, 10 Ks, and a 3.65 ERA.
The next season, Johnson found great success on the mound. The rookie finished with a 12-7 win-loss record and a 3.10 earned run average, almost best in the National League. This is a huge feat for any rookie pitcher, and if not for the fine performances of teammates Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla, Johnson easily could have won a rookie of the year award that season.
The next season told a different story. After dealing with a nagging elbow injury, Johnson couldn't find his form, beginning the season on a horrible note. This is when the Tommy John surgery took place, and Johnson recovered very quickly, returning to the mound during the summer of 2008.
The rest? It's history. Tonight, Johnson got another great start, going 7.1 innings, giving up only one hit, one earned run, and racking up 11 Ks. With a Mid-90s fastball, a strong slider, and a solid change-up, and being an imposing 6'7'' he's a huge reason for the Marlins being in contention.
Much of the Marlins' resurgence in 2009 should be credited to Johnson. Every successful team needs an ace, and the Marlins have one in Johnson.
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