Former Phillies infielder Johan Camargo signs Minors deal with AL club

Former backup Phillies infielder Johan Camargo is headed to the Twins.

Nearly one year after the Philadelphia Phillies signed veteran infielder Johan Camargo to a one-year contract, the 28-year-old Panama native is headed to the American League Central.

According to the Minnesota Twins’ official transactions page, the club signed the switch-hitter to a minor-league contract on Sunday.

UPDATE, 4:22 p.m. (11/27): 5 Eyewitness News’ Darren Wolfson reports that MLB.com’s transaction page “has a typo.” The Twins have instead re-signed catcher Jair Camargo.

Across 52 games and 166 plate appearances in a Phillies uniform last season, Camargo slashed .237/.297/.316 with three doubles, three home runs, 15 RBI, 13 walks and 37 strikeouts. In the field, Camargo played shortstop (186 innings), third base (90 2/3), second base (55 1/3) and first base (26) — committing only one error across 161 chances.

Most of Camargo’s playing time in red pinstripes came under then-manager Joe Girardi in the first two-plus months of the season, filling in for injured shortstop Didi Gregorius. In early June, Camargo landed on the 10-day injured list with a right knee strain. He was soon reactivated, but was shortly after placed on the IL again with the same injury.

Once President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski acquired infielder Edmundo Sosa from the St. Louis Cardinals, that all but spelled the end for Camargo as a Phillies big-leaguer. Camargo was designated for assignment and passed through waivers unclaimed in late September.

Perhaps Camargo’s most memorable game in a Phillies uniform was during a 9-6 road win against the Colorado Rockies on April 20. In the top of the seventh, he launched a three-run home run that extended the team’s lead from two to five runs. Camargo had four hits overall in the game.

Camargo slashed .318/.348/.432 as late as April 24. He would finish the year slashing just .204/.277/.269.

Before joining the Phillies, Camargo played five seasons with the Atlanta Braves, including 15 games during their 2021 World Series championship season.