Johns
Fernandina Beach High School alum Michael Johns has joined the Washington Nationals as a bench coach, the next step in a more than 20-year coaching odyssey.
Johns, 50, served as Tampa Bay’s first-base coach from 2024-25, where Johns oversaw outfield and base-running.
Johns said he goes way back with new Manager Blake Butera, but it was hard to leave the Rays, an organization he had been a part of since 2008.
“It was not an easy decision, but it’s one I’m super-excited for,” Johns said.
He played shortstop at Fernandina Beach High under coach Ken Roland. He cited that upbringing as one the reasons he’s succeeded. His family and friends, including mentors like Roland and current Pirates manager Jon Shave, made Johns who he is today, he said.
“From living there, it’s just a great community and everyone looks out for each other and pulls for each other,” Johns said. “I learned a lot just growing up in that environment.”
Johns played in college at Tulane in New Orleans. He was eventually selected in the 19th round by the Colorado Rockies in 1997, and he played in the minors for three years.
His managerial career started at FBHS as part of Roland’s staff for a few years, including a state championship appearance in 2003. Johns taught history.
“I really enjoyed American history,” he said.
After four years at Orange Park High (2004-2007), Johns served a variety of roles for the Rays. He was a field coordinator from 2018-2022 and managed four teams from 2010-2017. Johns managed the Durham Bulls in 2023 to an 88-62 record before he became the Rays’ first base coach for the last two years.
The modern game has a lot of moving pieces, he said. Johns added he thought he would stay in the Rays’ organization the rest of his life.
“Some of the best times in my life were the minor leagues and the journey to the big leagues,” Johns said. “The past few weeks have been pretty hectic with everything that has gone on.”
Transitioning to bench coach, he said the goal is to have the manager’s back and develop a culture. Bench coaches have to keep player morale high, maintain relationships and be versed on opponents.
“The game is ever-evolving and changing. It’s very player-driven,” Johns said. “If they’re not onboard, we’ve got to make sure they’re onboard.”
Johns referred to himself as an “Energizer bunny” during the season.
“I love the players and love the game. I love competing,” Johns said. “We have a young team in Washington. It’s going to take some time and developing and things I think we’re pretty good at.”
As a player, Roland described Johns as a high-character “ballpark rat” who could never get enough ground balls or swings in practice. Roland said Johns outworked his peers as a player and took that work ethic with him.
Roland, the Pirates manager for 35 years who amassed more than 650 career wins, said he watches his former players with pride. Roland witnessed Johns grow from a youth player to a high school player to an assistant coach at FBHS.
Johns combines an old-school instinctiveness with the analytics-driven modern game, Roland said. Roland was in the stands for Johns’ first MLB game and said he will find a way to Washington.
“I would say his journey in baseball is harder as a coach than it was as a player,” Roland said. “I give him an awful lot of credit. He’s special to us. I am just so proud of that. He’s one notch away from being a big-league manager. That’s pretty incredible.”
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