Astros sign former Orioles, Giants outfielder to add depth

Story by

Abdullah Imran, ClutchPoints

Mon, Apr 20, 2026 ·

2 min read

Astros sign former Orioles, Giants outfielder to add depth appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

The Houston Astros added outfield depth on Sunday, signing Daniel Johnson Jr. to a minor league contract following his recent release from the Miami Marlins organization earlier this month.

Johnson, 30, brings experience across four MLB seasons, having appeared with the Cleveland Indians , Baltimore Orioles , and San Francisco Giants . He appeared in a career-high 31 games this past season, split between Baltimore and San Francisco , producing a .189/.246/.302 slash line over 57 plate appearances. Across his major league career, Johnson has played 67 games, hitting .196 with a .243 on-base percentage, .322 slugging percentage, and five home runs in 152 plate appearances.

A left-handed hitter capable of covering all three outfield spots, Johnson addresses a roster imbalance for Houston, which currently features a heavy concentration of right-handed bats. The need for reinforcements has increased due to injuries, with Joey Loperfido on the 10-day injured list with a quad strain, while Jake Meyers and Zach Dezenzo are also out.

To compensate, the Astros promoted Taylor Trammell earlier this month, claimed Dustin Harris off waivers on Saturday, and have relied on a rotating cast that includes Cam Smith, Brice Matthews , and Shay Whitcomb , with Yordan Alvarez rotating into left field when not serving as designated hitter. Johnson is expected to provide defensive versatility and speed at the Triple-A level, though his lack of minor league options limits roster flexibility.

Johnson’s professional track record includes strong minor league production. In 2024 with Triple-A Norfolk, he hit .259/.320/.448 with 21 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases over 118 games. In 2023, he combined for a .271/.348/.469 line with 19 homers, 73 RBIs, and 30 steals across Double-A and Triple-A. He earned Minor League Player of the Year honors in the Washington Nationals system in 2017, with a .298 average, 22 home runs, 72 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases across 130 games.

Originally drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB Draft by Washington, Johnson now joins Houston as a depth option amid ongoing outfield injuries.