- Full name Cameron Johnson
- Born 01/11/2005 in Upper Marlboro, MD
- Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.
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Drafted in the 20th round (605th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2023.
View Draft Report
School: IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. Source: HS
Commit/Drafted: Louisiana State
Age At Draft: 18.5
BA Grade:55/Extreme
Tools:Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 40. Control: 45.
Johnson is one of the most physical players in the 2023 class with a 6-foot-4, 240-pound frame and plenty of stuff to go along with it. Originally from Maryland, Johnson transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where he vastly improved his stock with a strong spring season. He has a crude delivery that features plenty of violence and and some inversion of his arm action in the back of his arm stroke, but he has good arm speed and his low, three-quarter slot creates a tough angle for hitters. As might be expected with his release point, Johnson drives a high groundball rate and his low-90s fastball, which ticked up this spring and has been up to 98 mph, has excellent running life. His go-to secondary is a swing-and-miss breaking ball that was previously in the mid-to-upper 70s but has also ticked up to get to the low 80s this spring. He has always had solid shape to the pitch, and now with more power and hard biting action, the high-spin, sweepy slider looks like an above-average offering. It has two-plane break and impressive tilt at times that should make it an effective pitch against both righties and lefties. Johnson has infrequently thrown a low-80s changeup, but the pitch needs plenty of work and much more feel before it’s a legitimate third offering. Johnson’s control is spotty and he’ll need to improve both that and his delivery for scouts to feel confident in a starter profile at the next level. He’s committed to Louisiana State.
Top Rankings
Draft Prospects
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School: LSU. Drafted: Cardinals ’23 (20)
Age At Draft: 21.5
Johnson was talked about last year as a potential day one draft choice, but he ultimately decided to honor his committment to LSU. He has pitched somewhat sparingly this year and has gone through his fair share of growing pains—like all freshmen do—but he has flashed an explosive fastball up to 96 from a low slot as well as a high-70s/low-80s sweeping slider with plenty of sharp lateral movement and some bite. Johnson’s control has been below average, though, and he has thrown strikes at less than a 50% clip. At the end of the day, though, you are looking at a physical 6-foot-5 lefthander with two plus pitches. There is certainly plenty of reliever risk, but just as much upside. Johnson will continue to get opportunities to prove himself going forward, and figures to gain polish as he logs more innings. -
School: IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. Source: HS
Commit/Drafted: Louisiana State
Age At Draft: 18.5
BA Grade:55/Extreme
Tools:Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 40. Control: 45.
Johnson is one of the most physical players in the 2023 class with a 6-foot-4, 240-pound frame and plenty of stuff to go along with it. Originally from Maryland, Johnson transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where he vastly improved his stock with a strong spring season. He has a crude delivery that features plenty of violence and and some inversion of his arm action in the back of his arm stroke, but he has good arm speed and his low, three-quarter slot creates a tough angle for hitters. As might be expected with his release point, Johnson drives a high groundball rate and his low-90s fastball, which ticked up this spring and has been up to 98 mph, has excellent running life. His go-to secondary is a swing-and-miss breaking ball that was previously in the mid-to-upper 70s but has also ticked up to get to the low 80s this spring. He has always had solid shape to the pitch, and now with more power and hard biting action, the high-spin, sweepy slider looks like an above-average offering. It has two-plane break and impressive tilt at times that should make it an effective pitch against both righties and lefties. Johnson has infrequently thrown a low-80s changeup, but the pitch needs plenty of work and much more feel before it’s a legitimate third offering. Johnson’s control is spotty and he’ll need to improve both that and his delivery for scouts to feel confident in a starter profile at the next level. He’s committed to Louisiana State.
