Former MLB player and coach Ron Johnson, who spent more than 25 years as a minor league manager, died today of complications of COVID-19. He was 64.
Johnson's most recent managerial assignment was at the helm of the Norfolk Tides, the Baltimore Orioles Triple-AAA affiliate from 2012-2018.
Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1978, Johnson had stints with the big league club in 1982 and 1983 while also briefly playing with the Montreal Expos in 1984.
Johnson became a minor league coach in the Royals system beginning in 1986 before receiving his first managerial assignment in 1992. After spending the rest of the 1990's in the Royals organization, Johnson joined the Boston Red Sox organization and managed in their minor league system until serving as Terry Francona's first base coach in 2010 and 2011.
Johnson's son Chris spent 8 seasons in MLB with stops with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians and Miami Marlins hitting .321 with the Braves in 2013 when he finished third in the NL batting race. Johnson would play for his father when he joined the Orioles' organization in 2017.
Given Johnson's lengthy minor league managerial experience it is a shame he never got a chance to manage in the big leagues like Brian Snitker did with the Braves after nearly four decades of service to them.
Nevertheless, Johnson said he felt "blessed" to manage baseball at any level. R.I.P.
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