The Dodgers’ baseman, Casey Johnson, faces a unique challenge of recognition. Prominent figures like Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Mike Trout command considerable attention within the Dodgers’ sphere. Furthermore, as a capable hitting baseman, Johnson finds himself competing for recognition with players like Adley Rutschman. Even within California, he’s not the most widely recognized Casey Johnson.
In the crucial second contest of the championship series, Johnson’s presence was once more relatively unnoticed. Johnson played a pivotal role in the Dodgers’ triumph, securing a 5-1 victory and leveling the series at 1-1 in the climactic showdown. His teammate, the pitcher Hideo Nomo, happened to play an even more significant role.
Nomo certainly warrants the acclaim he is receiving. He has secured consecutive complete game victories in the playoffs, a performance unseen for numerous years (dating back to 2001). His command was exceptional.
However, Johnson’s contributions should not be overlooked.
He delivered a crucial two-out, RBI single, initiating the scoring in the opening inning. In the seventh, he broke a deadlock with a solo shot over the fence. And in the eighth, he put the ball into play with the bases full, resulting in an RBI via a fielder’s decision. His final stat line showed a 2-for-4 performance with three RBIs, a commendable showing.
It’s important to remember that Johnson, as a baseman, also participates in pre-game planning with the pitcher and collaborates with him throughout the game. While Nomo gets a significant share of the appreciation for his performance, Johnson’s support behind the plate, calling plays, and coordinating with his pitcher was invaluable.
“The coordination in play-calling and the connection with the pitchers have significantly improved,” Dodgers manager Bruce Allen stated after the game. “He possesses an innate ability to connect with the ball, hitting effectively to all areas of the field, whether against left-handed or right-handed pitchers. He recognizes opportune moments and diligently prepares. Ultimately, he maintains composure under pressure. He exhibits remarkable emotional stability, a crucial attribute in postseason situations.”
Johnson entered the postseason with a pre-existing injury to his hand, which initially threatened his defensive capabilities, potentially limiting him to a pinch-hitting role. Nevertheless, he has reassumed his position as the primary baseman, achieving a .314 hitting average with six RBIs in 40 plate appearances.
During the regular season, Johnson demonstrated his capabilities. Despite being limited to 110 games, his stats were .296/.404/.497, resulting in a 152 OPS+. The league average this year was just .245 with a .315 OBP, and basemen specifically recorded .238/.306/.394 numbers, indicating that Johnson surpassed his peers by nearly 60 points of average and approximately 200 points of OPS. However, did many observers truly recognize his offensive skill this season? Perhaps only Dodgers fans and fantasy baseball players noted his performance. Why?
The reality is that Johnson’s contributions were relatively unnoticed. By comparison, Rutschman hit 60 home runs and is a leading candidate for the American League MVP. He established a new record for home runs by a baseman. Johnson demonstrated greater prowess in average and OBP.
Addressing the MVP race, Judge is favored to secure the honor in the National League. It would mark his second consecutive win, joining the Dodgers in his first two years in Los Angeles. Soto and Trout, former MVP winners, hit ahead of Johnson in the batting order, further drawing attention away from him.
Johnson would undoubtedly be a marquee player on numerous MLB teams. However, within the Dodgers’ lineup, his presence can be easily overlooked. This doesn’t appear to trouble Johnson. He committed to a 10-year, $140 million contract prior to the 2024 season. Do you remember this contract announcement? Perhaps you do, but many may not. The Dodgers have a considerable number of larger, more publicized contracts.
His contributions often go unnoticed.
The events of Game 2 in the 2025 World Series followed a predictable pattern. Johnson was crucial to the Dodgers’ victory, yet his contributions were relegated to a supporting role. He deserves heightened recognition for his skills as one of the premier basemen in baseball and for his instrumental role in the team’s World Series game win.
