Johnson impressed in Grapefruit League play with a .316 average and .381 on-base percentage across 16 games, but his status as non-roster player likely hurt his chances of breaking camp with the big club. He'll presumably settle into a full-time role in the infield at Triple-A Durham to begin the upcoming campaign.

Johnson took Pirates stater Ivan Nova deep in the fourth for his first round tripper of spring, checking off yet another box in what has been a strong exhibition slate overall. The 27-year-old continues to make a strong case for a reserve infield spot, with Wednesday's homer pushing his spring average to .381 over 25 plate appearances.

Manager Kevin Cash seemingly prefers to have more of a right-handed presence on the bench given how many lefties are in the starting lineup, but it's hard to argue with Johnson's results this spring. In nine games, the 27-year-old is 7-for-18 with a 1.111 OPS and a 4:3 K:BB. He may hit left-handed, but Johnson's positional versatility and spring success could force the Rays' hand. Brandon Snyder and Jason Coats are also in the mix.

Manager Kevin Cash said that the recent trade of Ryan Schimpf to the Braves on Monday opened up a little more competition at the keystone, paving the way for Johnson to receive more reps in the Grapefruit League. It doesn't seem likely that Johnson will win the job, as he's appeared in just 61 major-league games over the course of his career, but he could earn a spot on the Opening Day roster as a utility man if he's able to impress in camp.