Astros re-sign outfielder to minor league deal

The Houston Astros re-signed outfielder Daniel Johnson Jr. to a minor league contract on Thursday, according to MLB.com transaction tracking. Johnson had elected free agency one day earlier after being designated for assignment on May 4, and he is set to report to Triple-A Sugar Land.

Johnson’s most recent stretch began after he signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins on December 29, 2025. He appeared in five Triple-A games for Jacksonville, going 1-for-15 (.067) with one walk before being released on April 7, 2026. He later joined Houston on April 19, and made one appearance for Triple-A Sugar Land before his contract was selected on April 21. In eight MLB games with the Astros, he went 2-for-14 (.143) with two RBI before being designated for assignment.

Across his Major League career, Johnson has played for the Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, and Houston Astros. In parts of five MLB seasons, he has fewer than 200 plate appearances and owns a .191/.249/.306 batting line with five home runs in 75 games, along with a 28% strikeout rate.

At Triple-A level, Johnson owns a .255/.321/.448 line over nearly 1,800 plate appearances across seven seasons. His recent minor league production also includes a 2024 season with the Orioles, where he hit .259/.320/.448 with 21 home runs, 76 RBI, and 17 stolen bases in 118 games for Triple-A Norfolk.

In 2025, Johnson played in the Mexican League with Caliente de Durango, hitting .429/.512/.943 with five home runs in 10 games. He also spent time with the San Francisco Giants organization, appearing in 14 MLB games and later being designated for assignment in August.