Johnson got into 47 games last year for San Diego and provides them with some emergency center field depth at Triple-A El Paso with both Jackson Merrill (hamstring) and Brandon Lockridge (hamstring) on the injured list. He’s a decent defender with plus speed, which makes him a decent bench option, but he offers virtually nothing at the dish from an offensive standpoint.

Johnson is the most noteworthy of the three despite posting a .177/.248/.226 slash line over 140 MLB plate appearances. In 2024, he hit hitting .288/.407/.431 with the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate in El Paso. He has always posted solid walk rates and can swipe bases, so there’s a chance he can play his way into some at-bats in Pittsburgh in 2024. Nuñez could provide organization depth at the corner infield spots, and Yean was traded with Wil Crowe from the Nationals to the Pirates for Josh Bell back in 2020. Yean had been the Nationals’ 6th-ranked prospect at the time but he hasn’t been able to match those expectations.

Johnson got a lot of playing time in pace of Fernando Tatis. Jr initially after being called up, but David Peralta overtook him, and Johnson was mostly a defensive replacement of late. He hit .206/.286/.238 in 73 plate appearances.

With left-hander Mitchell Parker starting for the Nationals, the Padres will leave David Peralta on the bench and let Johnson start. the 28-year-old is just 4-for-32 so for in 2024 and is off fantasy radars.