Colorado native Pierce Johnson signs one-year deal to improve Rockies bullpen

The Colorado Rockies have come to terms on a one-year contract with RHP Pierce Johnson worth a reported $5 million.

Johnson, 31, is a 2009 graduate of Faith Christian Academy in Arvada and joins Kyle Freeland and Lucas Gilbreath to make it three Colorado natives on the 40-man roster.

Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 15th round of the 2009 MLB Draft, Johnson opted to attend Missouri State University. He was selected in the supplemental portion of the first round (43rd overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2012 following his junior season.

In 2017, Johnson moved to the bullpen full-time and eventually made his Major League debut that year with the Cubs. San Francisco claimed him on waivers that September, utilizing him for 43.2 innings the following season in 2018.

From there, he was granted free agency signed a one-year pact for 2019 with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan. Johnson was selected to represent the Central League in 2019 NPB All-Star Game and finished with a 1.38 ERA over 58.2 innings with 91 strikeouts and just 13 walks. 

San Diego brought him back to the states in the form of a two-year deal worth $4 million that included a $3 million club option for 2022. During his three seasons with the Padres, Johnson had a 3.39 ERA (117 ERA+) over 93.0 innings with 125 strikeouts and 44 walks.

Right forearm tightness put him on the shelf in 2022 and limited his action to 14.1 innings. Prior to missing four months on 60-day injured list last season, he looked like the 2021 version of himself when he put up 1.1 bWAR.

During the Padres run to the 2022 National League Championship Series, Johnson pitched once in each round of the playoffs for a total of 4.1 scoreless innings against the Mets, Dodgers and Phillies.

Johnson throws a curveball and four-seam fastball (95 mph average), two pitches that were rated above average by StatCast in 2020-21 before the setback in 2022.

During 11 career appearances at Coors Field, Johnson is yet to give up an earned run in 10.2 frames. Colorado is banking on him to return to form in the city in which he’s played his most formative years of baseball.