Davis Johnson Steps Into Leadership Role as Notre Dame Baseball Builds Momentum
Notre Dame baseball is entering year four of the Shawn Stiffler era and there is a growing sense of optimism around the program.
The Fighting Irish finished just short of an NCAA Tournament berth a year ago, closing the season with a late surge to post a 32–21 record. While Stiffler’s clubhouse remains young on paper, the experience gained in 2025 has helped establish leadership heading into fall ball.
Junior catcher and outfielder Davis Johnson has emerged as one of those leaders and he credits his rise to working through the adversity of his first two seasons in South Bend.
”A big thing for me there is just learning to take the mistakes that I made freshman year, the hardships that I faced and just learning opportunities that I had and kind of allowing myself to move that towards the younger guys,” Johnson told ISD. “Coach Stiff mentioned we're going to have a lot of young guys who are going to have to play this year and I know they're going to be ready for it, but that still doesn't change the fact that adjusting to college baseball is very difficult.”
Johnson appeared in just five games as a freshman but became a regular part of the lineup last spring, playing in 41 games with 36 starts. While his sophomore season included strong production, batting .281 average with seven home runs, six doubles, and 28 RBI, the journey wasn’t without challenges.
“I think they've already done a great job at taking their failures as learning opportunities, but I think just allowing myself to kind of share some of my experiences that I've had and showing that no matter how difficult times get,” explained Johnson. “There's going to be a group of guys who are still steadfast and being very confident and sticking to the process. I think that's just providing that example of dealing with the failure.”
Last season, Johnson backed up All-American catcher Carson Tinney. This spring, Stiffler expects him to do the same behind Cornell transfer and First-Team All-Ivy League selection Mark Quatrani.
Competition at one’s position can be difficult, but Johnson has embraced it throughout his career.
“That's been a big thing over the past three years,” recalled Johnson. “Coming in my freshman year, we had three catchers in the same class, and immediately, it was a very healthy competition. It's the type of thing where it's not going to be at each other's throats, but you are going to be pushing each other because everybody wants to win the job, but only a few guys are going to.
“I think that's what pushes us all to be better. Anybody could argue that the catching room is one of the tighter position groups on the field just because we're spending so much time together, and it really is a great training environment when you get in with a lot of like-minded guys that are doing the same thing as you.”
That competitive environment has also helped forge a tight-knit catching group.
Along with Quatrani, the room also includes Troy Reader, Trent Hartman, freshman Shane Miranda, and Johnson, a combination that has built both depth and chemistry.
“It's honestly a blessing to constantly have the high level of talent that we have in myself, Troy Reader, Mark Quatrani, Trent (Hartman), Shane,” Johnson said. “We’re guys who are always in the room pushing each other to get better. It's moved us as a group further than I think we ever would have gone if that wasn't the case.”
Johnson believes his sophomore leap came from a better understanding of what college baseball demands and finding comfort in his role.
“Along with all the training and all the reps we've done, I think a big thing was just like coming to the understanding that like this is a role that I have to play now,” stated Johnson. “It's not something I can run from. The team needed me to find that comfort.”
What earned Johnson more opportunities was his left-handed bat and ability to get on base. If he takes another step forward as a junior, Notre Dame’s offense could benefit in a big way.
“They need me to go be ready to be an everyday guy and we have so many guys on our team who allowed me to take the pressure off of myself,” Johnson explained. “I hit in the lineup with Jayce (Lee), Bino (Watters) and this year Drew Berkland.
“There are many other guys that are going to allow me to take the pressure off myself, knowing that I'm hitting in a lineup of really good talent.”
Behind the plate, Johnson will also play a key role in guiding a pair of talented freshman arms. Left-handers Caden Crowell and Dyland Singleton are expected to contribute, making the catcher’s role even more important, especially in ACC play.
“They've been fantastic all fall. Similar to all the other freshmen, they made a bunch of really, really strong jumps. I think left-handed pitching is something you can never have too much of and so I think having two guys that are going to come in as freshmen and be really strong for us is huge.”
For Johnson, building confidence in young pitchers is central to his leadership approach.
“A lot of it as a catcher is just you have to find the little ways to build confidence in your pitchers,” said Johnson. “I view myself as more of a vocal leader. I think being able to have them know that no matter what the situation is, I'm back there, I'm working with them. I'm supporting them the whole time.
“It's not them versus the hitter, it's us two versus the hitter. I think that's big, and especially if you're younger guys know it's nine guys on the field helping them go win that battle. Whether it's practice or whether it's a game, knowing that they're not on an island and they're attacking every hitter, every team with a group of guys that are supporting them.”
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