Chris Johnson Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2811
AVG	.275
OBP	.313
SLG	.404
HR	63

Full name Christopher Dalton Johnson
Born 10/01/1984 in Naples, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Stetson
Debut 09/09/2009
Drafted in the 4th round (129th overall) by the Houston Astros in 2006 (signed for $242,500).

View Draft Report

Evaluations of Stetson slugger Chris Johnson run the gamut. He has attractive raw power, with the ability to drive balls deep to all fields. His body has gotten thick, especially in his lower half, and he could be limited to first base as a pro. The Red Sox drafted him in the 37th round out of high school in 2003 and could take a run at him again this year in the top 10 rounds.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Though Johnson was one of the most big league-ready prospects in the system and the Astros got little production from their third basemen, he didn't get much of a chance to show what he could do. An errant pitch broke his hand in April, costing him a month on the disabled list, and he never got going upon his return. The son of former big leaguer and current Red Sox first-base coach Ron Johnson, Chris shows flashes of ability to hit for average and power, but he chases too many pitches and doesn't work into enough hitter's counts or draw enough walks. He has tinkered with his stance, trying to find the best approach, but tends to become too pull-oriented. At third base, Johnson has soft hands and a strong arm. He needs to work on his footwork and agility, particularly his lateral movement. He has a thick lower half and below-average speed. Houston's third-base situation is still wide open, so Johnson could win the job if he plays well in spring training. He'll have to show more plate discipline to do so.
Johnson, the son of former big leaguer Rob Johnson, is the Astros' best power prospect in the high minors and could be an answer to the parent club's uncertain third base situation. He had his best season in 2008, with a career-high in home runs and RBIs. He anchored the Corpus Christi lineup before getting a late July promotion to Round Rock. Power is Johnson's best attribute. At the plate, he typically drives balls to left field and up the middle as he uses a wide stance and strong arms to get the bat head through the zone. Defensively, he has a plus arm at the hot corner, and when he gets to balls his throws whiz through the air. Even though Johnson saw his on-base and slugging increase from previous seasons, he still has a habit of getting too aggressive and selling out for the longball. He can get fooled by breaking pitches. And because of a thick lower half, his range is just decent at third base. Johnson seems like he's at least a half-season away from contributing in the big leagues, but he could reach the majors sooner if the Astros struggle to replace Ty Wigginton, whom they non-tendered.
With Mike Costanzo included in a trade for Miguel Tejada a month after the Astros acquired him in a deal for Brad Lidge, Johnson is once again the franchise's third baseman of the future. Not all scouts were sold on Costanzo and Johnson may be on the verge of a breakout, so he may have passed him anyway. The son of former big leaguer and current Red Sox Triple-A manager Ron Johnson, Chris holds the Stetson career batting mark with a .379 average. He hit just .261 in his first full pro season, though there were extenuating circumstances. The Astros didn't help him by playing him out of position for 19 games at shortstop in low Class A, and he injured a wrist on a checked swing in high Class A. Houston thinks he'll hit for more power than average anyway, as he shows above-average pop to all fields. He needs to show more patience and make pitchers challenge him to unlock his offensive potential. Despite a thick lower half, Johnson has average speed and can make some spectacular plays at third base. He has quick feet, good actions and range to both sides. He has one of the strongest infield arms in the system, though it sometimes leads to errors when he tries to make throws he shouldn't. Johnson reinjured his wrist during his fourth game in Hawaii Winter Baseball but should be ready for spring training. He'll open 2008 back in Salem with a good chance for a midseason promotion.
The son of former big leaguer and current Red Sox Triple-A manager Ron Johnson, Chris turned down Boston as a 37th-round pick in 2003 and opted to attend Stetson instead. After redshirting in his first year, Johnson set a school record with a career .379 batting average. When he signed for $242,500 as a fourth-round pick in June, he immediately became the system's top corner-infield prospect. Johnson has more raw power than most Houston farmhands and can drive the ball to all fields. He tried to do too much in his pro debut, hampering his own pop when he lost control of the strike zone. After playing mostly first base in college, Johnson shifted to third base in pro ball. He runs and moves well for his size, has enough arm for the hot corner and made just three errors in 49 games there. His lower half has gotten thicker, however, and some scouts believe he'll wind up back at first base. Houston expects significant improvement with the bat in low Class A this year.

Minor League Top Prospects

The Astros suspected that Johnson was ready for a breakout this season, and he didn't disappoint. Despite a lack of production in the Corpus Christi lineup, he made nice adjustments following a 9-for-44 start and earned a promotion to Triple-A in late July. Recovered from a wrist injury that sapped his strength in 2007, Johnson showed signs of developing above-average power. He could use more patience at the plate, but he did make consistently hard contact. Though he has a thick lower half, Johnson runs OK and plays a solid third base. He sometimes rushes his throws, which led to 18 errors in the first two months, but he settled down and committed just five miscues in June and July.