A life-changing silver lining can be discovered even in a pandemic. Ben Johnson’s mother was in her fifth year of a battle with cancer when the coronavirus outbreak took hold of the United States in the early months of 2020. When professional baseball shut down in March of that year, the Memphis Redbirds’ second-year manager found himself at home, here in Memphis, with his ailing mom. Johnson was able to spend countless hours, days, and weeks with her that he would not have had were the Redbirds traveling from one Pacific Coast League city to another between homestands at AutoZone Park. Today, almost two full baseball seasons removed from that shutdown, Johnson is grateful for minor-league baseball’s “missing season.”
“It was an absolute blessing for me,” says Johnson. “The Cardinals were one of the few organizations that continued to pay the staff. I know [the pandemic] was awful for a lot of people, but it worked out for me and my family. I’m lucky.”
In his fourth year — third season — in the skipper’s office for the Redbirds, Johnson recognizes some internal growth as he adapts to the role he plays in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. “You can learn something every day out here,” he says, “especially dealing with different personalities. Each player is different, and you have to treat them as individuals. You can’t ‘old-school’ these new kids. They want to know that you care about them. It’s building relationships.”
The 2022 Redbirds find themselves hovering around .500 (63-59) with a month to play in the season. Outfielder Alec Burleson is contending for the International League batting title. (The Redbirds left the PCL after the 2019 season and are playing their first as members of the IL West Division.) The Cardinals’ top pitching prospect, Matthew Liberatore, has had ups and downs on the AutoZone Park mound. But Johnson’s primary task is fine-tuning his players to impact the parent Cardinals, and by that measure, the 2022 Redbirds were successful before Memorial Day, having sent three players — Brendan Donovan, Nolan Gorman, and Juan Yepez — north to St. Louis. Each of the trio has contributed to the Cardinals’ rise to first place in the National League Central Division.
“We continue to play hard,” says Johnson. “We’ve got some young players, and we’re making mistakes. But we teach off that. Baseball comes and goes in waves. We’re hitting the ball hard, just right at players. It seems like one mistake has beaten us lately.”
When asked about players who have impressed him upon arrival, Johnson mentions a pair of young pitchers: Freddy Pacheco and Ryan Loutos. But his chest swells with pride when he reflects on the likes of Donovan and Gorman, who used their time in Memphis precisely as it’s scripted: a platform to the major leagues. “They had work to do,” says Johnson, “and they busted their tails. They’re competing for the big-league club, and immediately. It’s what [Gorman] did in the offseason. He came back more agile, more athletic. Quicker bat, and that equated into more power. When we were in Durham, he hit the farthest ball I’ve ever seen hit.”
Johnson relished the two months veteran shortstop Paul DeJong spent with the Redbirds. Demoted when he struggled to hit in the early weeks of the season, DeJong leaned into a program for rediscovering his stroke. Instead of pouting — DeJong had been the Cardinals’ primary shortstop since 2017 — he produced at the plate, driving in 54 runs in 51 games before being recalled by St. Louis.
“He wasn’t that hot when he first got here,” says Johnson. “But he was a pro in every way. Never did he go through the motions. When you have a veteran who’s in it, it makes me a better manager. He wants to be better. Let me facilitate that in every way. I want to be more prepared. I know he’s hungry. He inspired everyone.”
A 1999 graduate of Germantown High School, the Redbirds are Johnson’s home team in a way no previous Memphis manager could claim. And he hopes to return in 2023, particularly with the likes of Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn (highly ranked Cardinal prospects) soon to arrive. But for now, there are games to play in 2022, and Ben Johnson focuses on a culture of growth and positivity, traits he surely inherited from his late mother. “You’ve got to keep the negative energy at bay, because this is a game where failure is a part of it. Negative energy is contagious, and it can pull a club down. You’ve got to be mentally tough, despite [a bad] outcome.”
