Johnston is the 402^nd former Northwoods League player to debut in MLB

Rochester, Minn. – Former Green Bay Bullfrog Troy Johnston made his Major League debut on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Johnston is the 402^nd former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.

Johnston, who played collegiately at Gonzaga University, played for the Bullfrogs in 2017. He was drafted in the 17^th round of the 2019 MLB draft by the Miami Marlins.

In 2017 with the Bullfrogs, Johnston played in 59 games and hit .300 with four home runs, nine doubles and two triples. He drove in 37, stole four bases and scored 28 times.

Johnston spent six seasons in the Marlins system. Across 636 games he hit .281 with 81 home runs, 148 doubles, and 83 stolen bases. He drove in 395 and had 16 triples.

Prior to his call-up to the Marlins, Johnston had played in 84 games with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp of the Triple-A International League. He was hitting .252 with 12 home runs, 39 RBI, and 31 steals. In his Major League debut against the St. Louis Cardinals, Johnston started the game at first base and went 1 for 2 at the plate with a run scored.

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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its’ 32^nd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 24 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 400 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion and Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com) and ESPN+.