31-year-old Pierce William Johnson was born on May 10, 1991, in San Diego, California. He is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.
He has played for the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball, as well as the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He was drafted by the Cubs in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft out of Missouri State University.
After three seasons of varsity baseball at Faith Christian Academy in Arvada, Colorado, Johnson was taken in the 15th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.
He did not sign a contract and continued his education at Missouri State University. He had a 6–5 record and a 4.76 ERA in 75.2 innings in his debut year at Missouri State. He played collegiate summer baseball for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2010 and 2011.
On September 20, 2017, Johnson was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants. He elected free agency on November 3, 2018. On December 8, 2018, Johnson signed with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). On December 2, 2019, he become a free agent.
On December 23, 2019, Johnson signed a two-year contract that includes a third-year club option with the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). In his first season with San Diego, Johnson recorded 27 strikeouts in 20 innings.