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Red Sox Brian Johnson Carjacked In Florida

By Brandon Nickel |

A scary incident involving one of the young talents of the Boston Red Sox happened in Florida, as Brian Johnson was carjacked.

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Yesterday, FloridaToday.com reported the crime just after it happened. Johnson “was not hurt in the incident around 2 a.m. at a convenience store located at 3177 N. Atlantic Ave., according to the Cocoa Beach Police Department. The driver and owner of the 2005 Chevrolet Blazer, 31-year-old Thomas Carrigan, and others in their party were not hurt.”

The report went on to state that “Johnathan Oshaun Gould, 31, was arrested a short time later and charged with carjacking, aggravated assault, persons engaged in a criminal offense having weapons, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and violation of felony probation.”

Johnson was in the area because he is a native of Florida and played for the Cocoa Beach High School baseball team. He also was a star pitcher for the Florida Gators, making a name for himself across the state. The Red Sox took him in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft.

Before 2015, Baseball America ranked Johnson as the 82nd best prospect in the majors. Today, he sits in fourth place on the Red Sox prospect list, just behind second baseman Yoan Moncada, third baseman Rafael Devers, and outfielder Manuel Margot.

The carjacking could have been much worse, as Johnson is expected to help the big club sooner rather than later, either as a pitcher or an asset in a trade. Not to say that the human element isn’t way more important, which it is and it’s wonderful that justice was served in the case; however, Johnson’s worth is of vital importance in this offseason for the team’s future, as well.

Johnson’s one appearance as a starter for the Red Sox was one of necessity, as the regulars were dropping like flies earlier this season. He allowed four runs on three hits in 4.1 innings in an away game against the hot Houston Astros. Johnson took the loss, walking four batters while striking out three.

However, for Triple-A Pawtucket, the 6-foot-four lefty went 9-6 with a 2.53 ERA, walking 32 opposing batters while striking out 90 in 96 innings.

With numbers like that, Johnson’s value as a pitcher, let alone a human being, would have been greatly missed if he was injured in the sad incident. Events like this one make you stop and think how fragile and precious human life is; at any moment, someone or something could dash the hopes and dreams that any of us have.

Here at BoSox Injection, we are very happy to hear that the Johnson family and the members of his party are now safe and secure to, again, live life to the fullest. Baseball is our passion, but our families and human life come first. It’s just nice to see that both of Johnson’s two families, the one in Florida and the one in Fenway Park, can still enjoy him being here on Earth, safe and sound.

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