Sox don't renew contract of coach Ron Johnson

Share

By Maureen Mullen
CSNNE.comFollow @maureenamullen

Ron Johnson, the Red Sox' first-base coach for the last two years, says he's been let go by the team.

Johnson, whose contract was up at the end of the 2011 season, just completed his 12th season in the Red Sox organization. Prior to being appointed to the big-league coaching staff in 2010, he managed Triple-A Pawtucket from 2005-09. He joined the organization in 2000, managing Single-A Sarasota. Johnson also managed Double-A Trenton in 2002 and Portland in 2003-04.

Obviously, Im disappointed, Johnson said. I always considered myself a Red Sox for life. I have the utmost love for a lot of people there. But thats baseball and things happen, and its time to start a new chapter.

"But I will never forget what they did for me. I told them, You guys are like family to me. I understand what you need to do. And no matter what uniform Im wearing Ill always be kind of rooting for them because theres a lot of special people over there. And for me, more than probably most, because of the personal things I got involved with when my daughter go hurt.

Johnson left the team at the beginning of August in 2010, after his youngest child, Bridget, just a few days shy of her 11th birthday, lost her leg in a car accident. He missed the last two months of the season.

Shes doing real good. Shes moving around good, he said.

Johnson, a 24th-round pick of the Royals in 1978, began coaching in the Kansas City organization in 1986. Between the Red Sox and Royals, he compiled a minor league managing record of 1,261-1,262 from 1992-2009.

He intends to stay in the game.

Ive had a couple of years at the big leagues with the Red Sox. I won 1,000 games in the minor leagues. Im very proud of the players we were able to develop who are up there playing right now for the club, he said. Hopefully, that stuff will all play in when it comes down to time to get a job.

Johnson wouldn't comment on how the end of the Red Sox season played out.

Maureen Mullen is on Twitter at http:twitter.commaureenamullen

Contact Us