Marcus Johnson

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #14 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: For much of his career at Duke, Johnson was a successful reliever. A move to the rotation as a junior didn’t go as well, and he posted a near 6.00 ERA in his 2022 pro debut as a starter in the Marlins system as well. The Rays liked his control and delivery anyway and acquired him with Santiago Suarez in the deal that sent Xavier Edwards and J.T. Chargois to Miami. Johnson responded by being one of the better starters in the Low-A Carolina League in 2023. In late July and early August, Johnson hit a minor speed bump, as he struggled with his control in back-to-back starts. Those eight walks in 8.2 innings were more than one-third of all the walks he issued in 2023.
  
  Scouting Report: Even if Johnson’s stuff can be described as average at best, it’s hard to ignore what plus control does for a pitcher. Johnson locates both arm side and glove side. His 92-94 mph fastball is an average pitch, and his low-80s sweepy slider and bigger breaking high-70s curveball with 1-to-7 shape are both fringe average, as is his mid-80s changeup. For skeptical scouts, he’s just a dime-a-dozen, back-end starter. But because he throws strikes and locates all four pitches, hitters are often caught on their back foot.
  
  The Future: Johnson’s upside is likely as a back-of-the-rotation starter, but No. 5 starters don’t dot the corners like this. He has a chance to exceed expectations because of his excellent control and command.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 65
• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #25 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Johnson was one of Duke's best relievers in 2021. He moved into the rotation as Duke's Friday night starter for 2022, but he struggled in the new role, even if he continued to show solid stuff and the ability to both miss bats and throw strikes. The Rays acquired him and Santiago Suarez in the November 2022 trade that sent Xavier Edwards and J.T. Chargois to the Marlins.
  
  Scouting Report: Johnson was hit hard for a pitcher with quality stuff. His average fastball sits at 91-93 mph and touches 95 as a starter and he's touched 97 as a reliever. It doesn't have particularly notable movement characteristics, so it's better as a pitch to set up his secondaries more than it is a bat-misser on its own. His low-80s slider and mid-80s changeup both also have promise to be above-average pitches or better. He will sometimes tip his changeup by slowing his arm speed, but it has tumble and fade when he throws it properly. His slider has plenty of sweep and bat-missing potential.
  
  The Future: Johnson's success has come as a reliever, not as a starter, but the Rays see Johnson having starter traits, and they will continue to develop him as such.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 50.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #132 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Duke Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
  Age At Draft: 21.6
  BA Grade: 40/High
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: - | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: | Control: 50
  Johnson was a reliable bullpen arm for Duke during his first two seasons, and in 2021 he posted a 3.05 ERA over 56 innings, while showing a fastball up to 97 mph, a slider that flashed plus and impressive control. With that sort of stuff and pitching ability, Johnson moved into the team’s Friday night starter role in 2022, where he had an up-and-down season. Johnson posted a 5.61 ERA over 69 innings, with solid strikeout (23.8 K%) and walk rates (7.8 BB%), but his stuff was inconsistent, and he got hit around more frequently in a starting role. His fastball sat around 92 mph and touched 95 with solid carry, and he also regularly mixed in his low-80s slider and mid-80s changeup. The breaking ball is a high-spin pitch in the 2,700-3,000 rpm range that continues to show plus potential, while his changeup was his most consistent bat-missing pitch—at a 36% whiff rate. His arm speed will slow at times, but there’s some solid tumble and fading life to the pitch. Johnson still has room to add strength to a large, 6-foot-6, 200-pound frame and while he has shown the command for a starting role, his stuff could play better in pro ball out of the pen.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Johnson was one of Duke's best relievers in 2021. He moved into the rotation as Duke's Friday night starter for 2022, but he struggled in the new role, even if he continued to show solid stuff and the ability to both miss bats and throw strikes. The Rays acquired him and Santiago Suarez in the November 2022 trade that sent Xavier Edwards and J.T. Chargois to the Marlins.
  
  Scouting Report: Johnson was hit hard for a pitcher with quality stuff. His average fastball sits at 91-93 mph and touches 95 as a starter and he's touched 97 as a reliever. It doesn't have particularly notable movement characteristics, so it's better as a pitch to set up his secondaries more than it is a bat-misser on its own. His low-80s slider and mid-80s changeup both also have promise to be above-average pitches or better. He will sometimes tip his changeup by slowing his arm speed, but it has tumble and fade when he throws it properly. His slider has plenty of sweep and bat-missing potential.
  
  The Future: Johnson's success has come as a reliever, not as a starter, but the Rays see Johnson having starter traits, and they will continue to develop him as such.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 50.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Johnson was one of Duke's best relievers in 2021. He moved into the rotation as Duke's Friday night starter for 2022, but he struggled in the new role, even if he continued to show solid stuff and the ability to both miss bats and throw strikes. The Rays acquired him and Santiago Suarez in the November 2022 trade that sent Xavier Edwards and J.T. Chargois to the Marlins.
  
  Scouting Report: Johnson was hit hard for a pitcher with quality stuff. His average fastball sits at 91-93 mph and touches 95 as a starter and he's touched 97 as a reliever. It doesn't have particularly notable movement characteristics, so it's better as a pitch to set up his secondaries more than it is a bat-misser on its own. His low-80s slider and mid-80s changeup both also have promise to be above-average pitches or better. He will sometimes tip his changeup by slowing his arm speed, but it has tumble and fade when he throws it properly. His slider has plenty of sweep and bat-missing potential.
  
  The Future: Johnson's success has come as a reliever, not as a starter, but the Rays see Johnson having starter traits, and they will continue to develop him as such.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 50.