Micah Johnson: Difference between revisions

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'''Micah Johnson''' (born [[December 18]], [[1990]] in Indianapolis, Indiana) is a left-handed infielder for the Chicago White Sox and former [[Birmingham Barons]] player. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the [[2013 Southern League Championship Series]].
'''Micah Johnson''' (born [[December 18]], [[1990]] in Indianapolis, Indiana) is an artist and former Major League infielder who played with the [[Birmingham Barons]] in [[2013]] and [[2014]]. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the [[2013 Southern League Championship Series]].


Johnson graduated from Park Tudor High School in Indianapolis and attended the University of Indiana. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 9th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft. He began his professional career with the Great Falls (Montana) Voyagers of the Pioneer League. He began the [[2013]] season with the Class A Kannapolis Intimidators of the South Atlantic League and was promoted to the Class A+ Winston-Salem Dash in July and then to Birmingham on [[August 29]]. He began the [[2014]] season in Birmingham and was promoted to the AAA Charlotte Knights on [[May 13]], after averaging .329 in 37 games.
Johnson graduated from Park Tudor High School in Indianapolis and attended the University of Indiana. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 9th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft. He began his professional career with the Great Falls (Montana) Voyagers of the Pioneer League. He began the [[2013]] season with the Class A Kannapolis Intimidators of the South Atlantic League and was promoted to the Class A+ Winston-Salem Dash in July and then to Birmingham on [[August 29]]. He began the [[2014]] season in Birmingham and was promoted to the AAA Charlotte Knights on [[May 13]], after averaging .329 in 37 games.
Johnson is currently the starting second baseman and ninth batter on the 2015 White Sox roster.


While rehabilitating a hamstring injury in [[2014]], Johnson returned to Indiana to continue work toward his bachelor's degree in general studies with a major in Spanish and a minor in labor studies. After finishing his playing career, he planned to attend law school with the goal of becoming a general manager in the Major Leagues. His Major League career was cut short after he suffered a fractured wrist in [[2015]].
While rehabilitating a hamstring injury in [[2014]], Johnson returned to Indiana to continue work toward his bachelor's degree in general studies with a major in Spanish and a minor in labor studies. After finishing his playing career, he planned to attend law school with the goal of becoming a general manager in the Major Leagues. His Major League career was cut short after he suffered a fractured wrist in [[2015]].

Latest revision as of 20:59, 25 June 2024

Micah Johnson (born December 18, 1990 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is an artist and former Major League infielder who played with the Birmingham Barons in 2013 and 2014. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2013 Southern League Championship Series.

Johnson graduated from Park Tudor High School in Indianapolis and attended the University of Indiana. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 9th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft. He began his professional career with the Great Falls (Montana) Voyagers of the Pioneer League. He began the 2013 season with the Class A Kannapolis Intimidators of the South Atlantic League and was promoted to the Class A+ Winston-Salem Dash in July and then to Birmingham on August 29. He began the 2014 season in Birmingham and was promoted to the AAA Charlotte Knights on May 13, after averaging .329 in 37 games.

While rehabilitating a hamstring injury in 2014, Johnson returned to Indiana to continue work toward his bachelor's degree in general studies with a major in Spanish and a minor in labor studies. After finishing his playing career, he planned to attend law school with the goal of becoming a general manager in the Major Leagues. His Major League career was cut short after he suffered a fractured wrist in 2015.

During his rehabilitation, Johnson instead turned to producing art, having discovered an interest in a "paint and sip" class he attended with his girlfriend in 2015. After blurting out that he liked to paint in a meeting with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, he was asked to produce a portrait of legendary manager Maury Wills, who was then back with the Dodgers as a spring training coach. Through the team praised his work, he was unsatisfied but determined to improve. He painted every day while relegated to Atlanta's minor league affiliates in 2017. He concluded his baseball career with the Durham Bulls in 2018.

Through steady work, Johnson put together a collection of large-scale canvases in charcoal and oil. One painting, owned by fellow player Matt Kemp, was spied by Art Angels gallery owners Jacquelin Napal and Kat Emery. They organized his first solo exhibition in 2021. By then, Johnson had also been drawn into digital art and animation. He created "Aku", a 3-D animated character wearing a space helmet in response to overhearing his 4-year-old nephew ask his mother if astronauts could be Black.

In 2020 Johnson created an evolving interactive digital art piece entitled "sä-v(ə-)rən-tē" which was sold as a non-fungible token (NFT), and programmed to collect contributions to be given to the two young Black boys depicted when they turn 18. The work was recognized by Digital Asset Entertainment as their "NFT of the Year". Fortune magazine called him one of the "Top 50 Most Influential People in NFTs". During 2021 Miami Art Week he directed a 30,000 square-foot immersive collaborative environment called "Aku World". Aku appeared in a commissioned illustration for the cover of TIME magazine in August 2022, and an "Aku Adventure" was included in Starbucks Coffee's "Web3 Odyssey" program. Johnson has also partnered with Walt Disney Co., VISA, and Beats by Dre.

In 2024 Johnson was commissioned to provide portraits Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, Larry Doby, Monte Irvin and Willie Mays for a special Topps MLB at Rickwood Negro League Collection of baseball cards released in connection with the MLB at Rickwood Field event that June. He executed the portraits in charcoal on canvas. Topps, MLB, and FOX Sports made giant (24-foot x 16-foot) replicas of each card which toured various cities on the way to Birmingham for that game.

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