Pierce Johnson – Atlanta Braves Biography, Contract, Net Worth Information

Pierce Johnson has carved out a reputation as a reliable relief pitcher in Major League Baseball, suiting up for several teams over the years. Right now, you’ll find the right-hander in the Atlanta Braves bullpen after he signed a two-year, $14.25 million contract in October 2023. That deal pays him $7 million per year, which has helped push his estimated net worth to about $12.5 million.

Over his career, Johnson has built a reputation as a strikeout pitcher, piling up more than 336 strikeouts according to Baseball Reference. At 32, he still brings a lot of value to the Braves’ bullpen, and the front office clearly trusts him to get big outs when it matters most.

Johnson’s journey through pro baseball hasn’t been a straight line. He’s spent time with multiple organizations before landing his current contract in Atlanta. His path really shows how relievers can still lock in financial security, even if they’re not always in the closer’s role. That guaranteed $14.25 million says a lot about how teams view him in today’s game.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Pierce William Johnson’s road to professional baseball started in Colorado, where he spent his early years. His natural athletic talent was obvious from a young age and really set the stage for everything that followed.

Background and Family

Born on May 10, 1991, in Denver, Colorado, Johnson grew up surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. That environment gave him a perfect backdrop for developing his athletic skills. There isn’t much public info about his family, but it’s pretty clear his support system mattered a lot in getting him where he is.

Growing up in Colorado meant Johnson had to train in high altitude and deal with unpredictable weather. Maybe that helped him build some extra grit as a pitcher.

He gravitated toward baseball early on, and by the time he was a kid, it was pretty much his main thing.

High School and College Achievements

Johnson attended Faith Christian Academy in Arvada, Colorado. There, he stood out as a top pitcher and really started to turn heads. With a strong arm and improving control, he quickly became one of the state’s top prospects.

At Missouri State University, Johnson kept adding to his pitching toolbox. Playing college ball gave him a chance to face tougher competition. College also meant investing in equipment, special training, and plenty of travel for games.

His time at Missouri State helped him grow as both a player and a person. Those college years got him ready for the grind of professional baseball. Scouts started to take notice as he kept improving.

Draft Pick and Entry Into Professional Baseball

In 2012, Johnson’s skills got him picked in the first round of the MLB Draft. The Chicago Cubs grabbed him as the 43rd overall pick, making him one of the top draft picks from Colorado that year. That selection really validated all the work he’d put in.

After signing his first pro contract, Johnson joined the Cubs’ minor league system. The signing bonus helped cover years of expenses—tuition, books, and all the baseball training that got him there.

Jumping from college to pro ball brought new challenges and opportunities. Johnson started his minor league career determined to climb the ladder and eventually make it to the majors.

Professional Career Highlights

Pierce Johnson’s baseball story has taken him from the minor leagues all the way to a steady Major League role. He’s worn a few different uniforms, hit some big milestones, and played key parts in playoff pushes.

Major League Debut and Early Years

Johnson’s pro journey really took off when the Chicago Cubs drafted him in 2012. He didn’t make it to the majors right away—he had to put in a few years of work in the minors.

He finally made his MLB debut on May 19, 2017, with the Cubs. Those early years brought some ups and downs as he tried to find his footing in the big leagues.

After his short time with Chicago, Johnson made an unexpected move to Japan, signing with the Hanshin Tigers in Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2018 season. That experience overseas helped him refine his pitching.

Notable Teams and Contributions

When Johnson came back to the U.S., he signed with the San Francisco Giants in 2019. He started to find his groove as a bullpen arm there.

In 2020, he joined the San Diego Padres and kept building his reputation as a reliable reliever, especially in high-pressure spots.

Johnson also pitched for the Colorado Rockies before ending up with the Atlanta Braves. In Atlanta, he’s become a key setup man, racking up holds and helping the team’s bullpen stay strong.

Postseason and World Series Appearances

Johnson has gotten a taste of postseason baseball over the years. He’s shown he can handle the pressure when games matter most.

He made his playoff debut with the Padres during the expanded 2020 postseason. That first October run gave him valuable experience in big moments.

Since joining the Braves, Johnson has kept stepping up in tough spots. In 2024, he played a big role in Atlanta’s bullpen during their playoff run, proving he can handle the intensity of postseason ball.

Career Milestones and Honors

Johnson has reached a few notable milestones. In his first full season with Atlanta in 2024, he notched a career-high six wins and 12 holds, locking himself in as a dependable setup guy.

He’s racked up 336 career strikeouts as of 2024. His breaking pitches have played a big part in that success.

His on-field performance has paid off financially, too. Johnson signed a two-year, $14,250,000 contract with the Braves, which includes a $7,125,000 yearly salary.

From first-round pick to established reliever, Johnson’s story is about persistence and adapting to whatever pro baseball throws at you.

Pitching Style, Skills, and Statistics

Pierce Johnson has made his mark as a valuable MLB reliever, thanks to his unique pitching style and solid stats. His numbers show both his strengths and the areas where he’s still working to improve.

Signature Pitches and Strikeout Rate

Johnson’s pitching arsenal centers around a nasty curveball—his go-to pitch. That breaking ball drops hard and gives hitters fits. His fastball usually sits in the mid-90s, so the speed difference keeps batters guessing.

He’s always been able to rack up strikeouts. If you check his latest stats, you’ll see his strikeout ability stands out. Sure, his hard-hit percentage is 46.9%, which means hitters can make good contact, but overall, he still gets the job done.

Johnson has leaned on his curveball more and more as his career has gone on. It’s become his main weapon for getting swings and misses.

Walk Rate and Control

Control hasn’t always come easy for Johnson. His walk rate has gone up and down, which sometimes limits how effective he can be, even with all those strikeouts.

He really turned a corner with his command during the 2021 season with the Padres, when he posted a 3.22 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 58⅔ innings. That year showed what he can do when he’s in control.

His pitch location data shows he’s gotten better at hitting the strike zone, especially with his breaking stuff. That’s cut down on walks while keeping his strikeout numbers up.

Role in the Bullpen and As a Closer

Most of the time, Johnson has worked as a setup man or middle reliever, though he’s got the stuff to close if needed. His versatility helps the bullpen, especially in high-leverage spots.

The Braves clearly trust him—they signed him to a two-year contract worth $14,250,000. He usually pitches the seventh or eighth innings, setting things up for the closer.

Johnson’s knack for strikeouts makes him especially valuable with runners on base, where a K can stop a rally cold.

Comparison to Notable Closers

Johnson isn’t a full-time closer right now, but his pitch mix stacks up pretty well against some top closers like Kenley Jansen or Craig Kimbrel. His curveball, in particular, has a similar bite to Kimbrel’s famous breaking ball.

He doesn’t have the save totals of guys like Raisel Iglesias or David Robertson, but his strikeout rate suggests he could handle the closer’s job. His path feels more like pitchers such as Seth Lugo, who’ve bounced around in high-leverage roles.

What keeps Johnson from being in that elite closer tier is mostly consistency and command, not his raw stuff. His current net worth of about $12.5 million shows he’s solid, but there’s still room to climb higher if he keeps refining his game.

Contracts, Deals, and Net Worth

Pierce Johnson’s financial story in MLB has been one of steady progress. As he’s proven himself, his contracts have grown right along with his reputation.

Major Contracts and Team Deals

Johnson’s biggest contract so far is the two-year, $14.25 million deal with the Atlanta Braves he signed in October 2023. That pays him $7 million per year for 2024 and 2025. There’s also a $7 million club option for 2026, with a $250,000 buyout.

Before Atlanta, Johnson bounced around with the Cubs, Giants, Padres, and Rockies. Earlier contracts were smaller, as he worked to prove himself in the majors.

The Braves deal shows how much the team values his contributions, especially after his strong 2023 season.

Salary Progression and Net Worth Estimation

Johnson’s 2023 salary was $5 million, a big jump from his earlier years. Now, under his Braves contract, he’s making $7 million a year.

By the end of 2025, Johnson’s career earnings will top $20 million, not counting the smaller deals from his early days. His net worth isn’t exact, but most estimates put it between $10 and $15 million.

Most athletes, including Johnson, keep around 40-50% of their gross earnings after taxes, agent fees, and expenses. That’s important to remember when calculating net worth.

Taxes, Real Estate, and Financial Planning

Playing in the big leagues means dealing with complicated taxes. Johnson has to file returns in multiple states—everywhere he plays games, thanks to the so-called “jock tax.”

A lot of MLB players, including Johnson, work with financial advisors who know the ins and outs of pro sports. These advisors usually help with:

• Tax planning
• Real estate investments
• Retirement strategies
• Insurance policies (super important for athletes)

Johnson hasn’t really shared details about his real estate or financial moves. But it’s common for players in his spot to buy property in their hometowns or where they play, as a way to protect their wealth.

As contracts get bigger, private wealth management becomes even more important. It helps players like Johnson plan for life after baseball and keep their finances in order.

Personal Life and Off-Field Activity

Pierce Johnson’s life outside baseball shows a resilient athlete who’s battled through health challenges and stayed close with family and his community.

Health and Recovery

Johnson’s career has definitely thrown some health curveballs his way. Back in 2013, while he played in the Cubs’ minor league system, hamstring trouble slowed his progress.

Later on, forearm strains kept him out of the bullpen for a bit. Those setbacks really put his resilience to the test.

He usually tackled recovery with a rehab program that mixed rest and slow, steady strength work. After injuries, Johnson teamed up with specialized pitching coaches to tweak his mechanics, hoping to dodge more trouble down the road.

In 2019, when he pitched for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan, he managed to stay healthy and took the mound in 58 games. That kind of consistency showed how much he’d learned about taking care of his body after all those earlier setbacks.

Tommy John Surgery and Injuries

Somehow, Johnson has never needed Tommy John surgery, which is pretty rare for a pitcher. The stress on a pitcher’s elbow is no joke, but he’s found ways to avoid that particular fate.

Still, he’s had his share of arm problems. In 2018, while pitching for the Giants, a right forearm strain landed him on the injured list.

That injury hit at a tough moment, just as he was trying to prove himself in the majors. Over time, Johnson changed how he handled injuries, getting more serious about arm care and prevention.

He sticks to a strict shoulder and elbow strengthening routine between outings. That discipline has paid off.

His focus on prevention has helped him stay effective and keep a solid ERA as a bullpen arm.

Family, Custody, and Child Support

Johnson keeps his family life pretty quiet. He’s married and has kids, but he doesn’t share much about them publicly.

Unlike some athletes, he hasn’t had any public legal issues around custody or child support. That privacy seems to let him focus on baseball without extra drama.

Every now and then, he mentions how much his family’s support has meant, especially during injuries or big decisions—like when he went to play in Japan.

His family has moved right along with him, too, including when he signed his two-year contract with the Braves in Atlanta for $14.25 million.

Community Engagement and Interests

Johnson has jumped into all sorts of team-sponsored community initiatives throughout his career.

While he played for the Cubs, he joined youth baseball clinics that aimed to bring the sport to kids in underserved neighborhoods.

Outside baseball, he really enjoys outdoor activities and fishing. These things give him a break and help him unwind during the grind of a long season.

He’s talked about how getting outside helps him keep his head straight, especially when the ups and downs of pro sports start to pile up.

After he came back from a successful run in Japan, Johnson got even more involved in his community. He’s tried to use his international experience to encourage cultural exchange through baseball, which honestly feels pretty cool.

His current salary of $5 million per year lets him support a few charitable causes, though he doesn’t seem to want any attention for it.

Johnson has shown a real interest in backing youth sports programs, especially those that give kids from tough backgrounds a shot at something bigger.