Remember Dan Johnson? The career journeyman first baseman spent his best days several years back with the Tampa Bay Rays where he hit one of the most iconic homers in recent memory. He actually hit several that Rays fans undoubtedly remember, but there’s one that virtually all baseball fans remember.
On the final day of the 2011 season, as the Boston Red Sox were nearing the conclusion of a historic month-long collapse, the Rays were in the process of coming back from a 7-0 deficit, trying to win the Wild Card.
But, in the bottom of the 9th, down two runs, pinch-hitter Dan Johnson was down to his final strike when he did this to tie the game:
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Johnson’s career took him all over baseball from there, but he’ll always be remembered by Rays fans for the heroics of that night (and several other nights, actually).
Now 36, Johnson is back with the Rays at Spring Training, but his story has taken an even more surprising twist:
#Rays have Dan Johnson – yes, that Dan Johnson – in minor league camp, as a knuckleball pitcher
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) March 5, 2016
The odds of Johnson succeeding in his new role are probably exceedingly long, but it’ll be pretty fun to see him try.