
Editor's note: The above video is from Aug. 15, 2016.
After playing in just 12 games last season with the St. Louis Cardinals, former Oakland A's first baseman Dan Johnson had no plans to hang his spikes up after no teams wanted his bat in their lineup.
Johnson made a leap very rarely seen, signing a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays in March as not a hitter, but a pitcher. And there's a twist -- Johnson was signed specifically as a knuckleball specialist.
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The 37-year-old didn't last with Tampa Bay and then bounced around Independent League teams. Eventually, Johnson settled with the St. Paul Saints and caught the attention of another MLB team for his services.
On Monday, the Saints announced that Johnson's contract had been purchased by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Johnson will head to Double-A for the Tulsa Drillers.
[NEWS: Butler to go on 7-day concussion DL, Valencia fined for fight]
With the Saints, Johnson made seven starts, compiling a 4-3 record and a 4.50 ERA. The former seventh-round pick by the A's in 2001, struck out 27 batters and walked 20. Opposing hitters batted .231 against him.
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Though Johnson has made the change to the mound, he still used his bat to help the Saints. After the Saints' first baseman went down with an injury, Johnson stepped in and batted .277 in 18 games as a hitter. He also blasted six home runs and drove in 15.
As a first baseman with the A's, Johnson enjoyed the best years of his career, hitting 15 home runs as a rookie in 2005 and 18 two years later in 2007. He hit .249/.344/.419 with 42 home runs in four seasons in Oakland.
The Dodgers (69-55) lead the Giants (68-56) by one game in the NL West standings. San Francisco goes on the road Tuesday to LA, starting a crucial three-game series.