After 636 games in Minors, Johnston needs 33 in MLB to make Marlins history

MIAMI – All Marlins rookie Troy Johnston needed was an opportunity.

The 28-year-old Johnston, who was the organization’s 2023 Minor League Player of the Year, watched two offseasons pass, going unprotected from the Rule 5 Draft. No other organization scooped him up, so he kept plugging away at Triple-A Jacksonville.

With 636 Minor League games and 2,741 plate appearances on his résumé, Johnston finally received the long-awaited call to The Show on July 29.

In Johnston’s 33rd MLB appearance, he made history by becoming the first Marlin whose first career multihomer performance included a walk-off blast in Saturday’s 6-4 victory over the Tigers in 11 innings at loanDepot park. His heroics gave Miami its fourth straight win for the first time since July 29-Aug. 3.

“This is very cool to do it in the big leagues,” Johnston said. “Of course, [I’ve] done it a couple times in the Minors, but to do it in the big leagues and to have the second home run be a walk-off is probably up there in my top five of best days I've had at the plate.”

With the Marlins trailing 3-2 in the sixth, Johnston’s power surge began when he pummeled a game-tying solo homer off righty Troy Melton. Johnston did so by depositing a cutter at the bottom of the zone to the second deck in right-center field.

The clubs traded zeros through the 10th before Detroit scored a run in the 11th but ran into an out at home. Miami responded on Heriberto Hernández’s game-tying RBI fielder’s choice to set up Johnston’s third career home run (his other came on Aug. 16 at Fenway Park).

After Johnston sent righty Rafael Montero’s splitter over the right-center-field wall for the game-winning two-run homer, he executed a majestic bat flip and took in the familiar faces – many of whom have also bid their time in the Minors – waiting to greet him. There was Marlins No. 21 prospect Victor Mesa Jr. spraying a water bottle on him in front of home plate, as well as journeymen Brian Navarreto and Hernández.

Since his three-hit game on Aug. 29, Johnston had been mired in a 2-for-21 slump entering Saturday. The left-handed hitter has platooned at first base or in the corner outfield, starting against right-handed starters like the Tigers’ Charlie Morton.

“A great moment for us and for Troy,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “We've talked in recent days about how Troy, as he got more regular run, how the at-bat quality has been much improved. To tie the game with a big home run there, and then certainly the one at the end, probably not much better feeling in the regular season than a walk-off homer. So great moment for Troy, and a big win for us.”

Also joining the celebration was right-hander Janson Junk, who recorded a quality start. He and Johnston played on the same summer ball team in Washington as teenagers, and they still train together over the offseason.

“He was always the guy,” Junk said. “He's younger than me by a year, and he was like the dude coming up through that system or whatever. … Even back then, he had it. It's really cool to team up with him here, kind of reflect on those days. Who would have thought that two Bulldogs would have been here and playing together? It's pretty cool.”

While Miami might be out of the postseason picture, there is plenty to play for. The club can still impact the race facing contenders like Detroit, which will look to avoid the weekend sweep on Sunday. Then there’s the matter of personnel. Johnston, like many of his teammates, is trying to make a case for a role in 2026.

“You guys have been following me a lot in my career,” Johnston said. “I know you guys have been pulling for me. I'm a guy that has really worked hard to be here and tried to earn my spot every day, and that's all I try to do here, is I try to do my best to work hard every single day. The exterior things like that shouldn't really affect me, because I'm honestly, I'm truly happy to be here and be a Marlin.

“Do my best to try to help the team win day in and day out. We can talk about the future and we can talk about different stuff, but realistically, we still have a season to play. We still have 13 games left, so trying to make the most out of those 13 games is the most important thing we can do.”