Erik Johnson

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #2 prospect in 2014
  A key starter on California's 2010 College World Series team, Johnson was a workhorse the following season as a junior, pitching his way into the second round. After signing for $450,000, he had his full-season debut delayed by shoulder fatigue then was limited to 17 starts in 2012. He showed he was fully healthy in 2013, wrapping the season with a five-game big league trial. Projected as a rotation workhorse, Johnson has a classic power pitcher's body and repertoire, as well as demeanor. His fastball isn't a pure dominator, and he sits at 92 mph and brushes 95 with his four-seamer while sitting around 90 mph with a two-seamer. He thrives with above-average control of both fastballs as well as his hard, upper-80s slider, a plus pitch that helped him shackle righthanded hitters to the tune of a .173 average and just two home runs in 324 at-bats last year. His show-me curveball and fringe-average changeup aren't where they need to be, though the changeup plays off his fastball well and has promise. His September trial taught Johnson that he needs to throw his changeup more. A potential No. 3 starter, his power righthanded profile fits in well Chicago's lefty-heavy big league rotation.
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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #4 prospect in 2013
  White Sox coaches were thrilled when Johnson arrived at their Arizona complex in 2011, with one saying, "This is what we're looking for." After he recovered from shoulder fatigue in spring training that delayed his 2012 debut until June, Johnson posted a 2.53 ERA in 17 regular season starts and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in the first round of the Carolina League playoffs. He uses his strong build to throw a low-90s fastball that peaks at 96. His slider is a potential plus pitch with depth and bite, and his curveball is nearly as good. He's still learning to add and subtract from his changeup, which lags behind his other pitches. He worked on his changeup during instructional league, with club officials encouraged by the results. Johnson has refined his mechanics since signing, which paid off with extra velocity and improved control late in the 2012 season. He still needs to prove he can hold up over the course of a full season. White Sox scouts compare him to Curt Schilling, though realistically Johnson's ceiling is more as a No. 3 starter. He could open 2013 in Double-A and compete for a big league rotation spot in 2014.
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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #13 prospect in 2012
  Matched against No. 2 overall pick Danny Hultzen in California's College World Series opener last June, Johnson battled nerves but held Virginia scoreless for three innings in a game the Bears would lose 4-1 after the bullpens got involved. Unlike the polished Hultzen, Johnson is more of a project who will need time to develop. The White Sox, who drafted him in the second round and paid him $450,000, love his strong build and arm plus the fact that he moved into a Friday-starter role as a college freshman and never gave it up. Johnson throws a 90-94 mph fastball that tops out at 96. Chicago believes he could gain velocity as he smooths out his delivery and becomes less of a max-effort guy. Johnson complements his heater with three offerings, the best of which is a hard slider that can be a swing-and-miss pitch. His curveball and changeup were the focus of hard work in instructional league. Johnson's fastball/slider combination makes him a late-inning relief candidate, but the White Sox want to see how he fares as a starter. He could become a mid-rotation option if he refines his fastball command. Johnson pitched only two innings after signing, so 2012 will be a learning experience. He'll probably open the year in low Class A and have an opportunity for a midseason promotion.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked International League #11 prospect in 2013
  Johnson made the transition from Double-A Birmingham to Triple-A seamlessly, going 4-1, 1.57 for Charlotte and earning a September ticket with the White Sox. Johnson suffered control problems in college, but the White Sox smoothed out his delivery and it?s much more consistent now. He can hit 96 mph and operates consistently in the 91-94 range, and he backs up the heater with a full arsenal of secondary pitches, including an above-average slider, a solid curveball and a changeup that has improved over the last two years. Johnson?s thick body makes him an ideal candidate to be a workhorse. For a guy his size, he fields his position well. With a little more movement on his fastball and trust in his other pitches, Johnson can be a solid No. 3 starter for Chicago.
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  Ranked Southern League #11 prospect in 2013
  Johnson made remarkable progress this season, continuing to winnow his walk rate while advancing from Birmingham to Triple-A Charlotte in late June to Chicago for a September callup. Across two levels he ranked third among qualified minor league starters in WHIP (0.99), fifth in ERA (1.96) and sixth in opponent average (.197), wielding a solid three-pitch mix and enough command to profile as a mid-rotation starter. Johnson works downhill from a thick, 6-foot-3 build, firing 90-93 mph fastballs of the two- and four-seam variety that brush 95 and find the black frequently. His out-pitch is an 86-90 mph slider that runs away from the bats of righthanders, though his low-70s curve is an early-count show pitch only. Johnson has refined his solid changeup since signing and it?s a strong third pitch. Scouts love Johnson?s bulldog mentality and his durable frame, envisioning him as a 200-inning workhorse.
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  Ranked Carolina League #11 prospect in 2012
  Johnson was a late arrival to Winston-Salem, arriving in mid-July after being shut down in spring training with shoulder fatigue. He made his full-season debut in the South Atlantic League, then helped guide the Dash to the Carolina League championship round after he arrived. The highlight was a pair of strong playoff starts, including taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning of an eventual loss to Myrtle Beach in the first round. Johnson works off fastball, which sits in the low 90s, tops out at 96 mph and could add more consistent velocity as he smoothes out his delivery. His No. 2 pitch is a hard-biting slider, while his curveball and changeup remain works in progress. After battling his control in his first two pro stops, he did a good job of filling the strike zone while with the Dash.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #63 prospect in 2014

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: White Sox coaches were thrilled when Johnson arrived at their Arizona complex in 2011, with one saying, "This is what we're looking for."After he recovered from shoulder fatigue in spring training that delayed his 2012 season until June, Johnson posted a 2.53 ERA in 17 regular season starts and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in the first round of the Carolina League playoffs. Scouting Report: Johnson uses his strong build to throw a low-90s fastball that peaks at 96. His slider is a potential plus pitch with depth and bite, and his curveball is nearly as good. He's still learning to add and subtract from his changeup, which lags behind his other pitches. He worked diligently on his changeup during instructional league, with club officials encouraged by the results. Johnson has refined his mechanics since signing, which has paid off with some extra velocity and improved control late in the 2012 season. He still needs to prove he can hold up over the course of a full season. The Future: White Sox scouts compare him to Curt Schilling, though realistically Johnson's ceiling is more as a No. 3 starter. A lack of pitching depth was an issue for Chicago down the stretch in 2012, and it has no starting pitching prospect with as much upside as Johnson. He could open 2013 in Double-A and compete for a big league rotation spot in 2014.