Josh Johnson Stats & Scouting Report

IP	998
ERA	3.4
WHIP	1.268
BB/9	3.048
SO/9	8.252

Full name Joshua Michael Johnson
Born 01/31/1984 in Minneapolis, MN
Profile Ht.: 6'7" / Wt.: 250 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Jenks
Debut 09/10/2005
Drafted in the 4th round (113th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2002.

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Johnson's season was marked by inconsistency. His velocity fluctuated from 88-92 mph to the mid-80s, and both his breaking ball and slider would come and go in the same fashion. He helped himself by finishing on a high note in the Oklahoma 6-A championship game, throwing 91 mph and beating Weeden's team with a complete-game five-hitter. (Weeden didn't pitch but did homer for Santa Fe's lone run.) With Johnson's 6-foot-7, 215-pound frame, it's easy to project him throwing in the mid-90s down the road. If he doesn't sign, he'll join his brother Tyler, an outfielder at Oklahoma.

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Signed for $300,000 out of high school, Johnson just keeps improving. He has yet to repeat a minor league stop and reached the majors after just 359 pro innings. He uses his size to create a good downward plane in his delivery. His best pitch is a 91-93 mph fastball that tops out at 95. His changeup and slider continue to show progress. He has strong makeup and mound presence. For the second time in four pro seasons, Johnson missed time with shoulder tendinitis, this time in May. He's around the strike zone so much that he can be hittable at times, and his secondary pitches still need work. After getting a September callup, Johnson will compete in the spring for a spot in Florida's rotation. He got some of his big league jitters out of the way during a wild-card race and figures to be a fixture as a Marlins starter, provided his shoulder cooperates.
Johnson roared out of the gate in his first exposure to high Class A, but the wins were harder to come by after a strong first month. He still impressed club brass with his smooth mechanics and solid all-around effort. He has added velocity since signing for $300,000 out of high school, due in part to mechanical changes and to physical maturation. He pitches at 91-93 mph and tops out at 96 mph. His changeup and slider showed progress. Johnson was shut down shortly after signing with shoulder tendinitis and a pulled hip flexor. He has bounced back and avoided injury since. In fact, he got stronger as the year went along. He has excellent makeup and mound presence. He has the aggressiveness to match his large frame, but does a good job of keeping his emotions under control. Some see him as a future innings-eater in the Carl Pavano mode. Johnson figures to keep improving as he climbs the ladder. He will probably start 2005 at Double-A.
Once considered a late first- or second-round selection in 2002, Johnson had a disappointing senior season in high school and slid to the fourth round of the draft. Troubled first by shoulder tendinitis and later a pulled hip flexor after signing for $300,000, he was shut down for a time but bounced back with a solid first full season in 2003. Despite his size and bulk, he's not a power pitcher. He commands his fastball at 88-92 mph, mixing in a developing changeup and an average slider that showed signs of improvement late in the year. In his final two starts, after making some adjustments with Greensboro pitching coach Scott Mitchell, Johnson's slider showed more bite and tilt than before. He also threw a little harder as the year wore on due to other mechanical changes. Some see him as a Carl Pavano type, a workhorse who throws downhill and can eat innings. Johnson is strong mentally, works hard and has honed a solid frame. His makeup and intelligence make him a strong candidate to keep improving as he climbs the ladder. He'll move up to high Class A in 2004.
Once considered as a possible late first-round pick for 2002, Johnson had a disappointing high school senior season and slid to Florida in the fourth round. Troubled by shoulder tendinitis after signing for $300,000, Johnson was shut down and returned fully healthy after a rehab period. Despite his impressive size, he's not a power pitcher. He commands his 88- 92 mph fastball, which has good movement in both the two- and four-seam variety. Considering his frame, he projects to add velocity. Johnson also has shown a good feel for a hard curveball. His changeup shows signs of becoming a plus pitch as well. A pulled hip flexor limited his showing during instructional league but he still impressed the Marlins. Johnson tends to be around the plate almost too much, as he allows more hits than he should. Some in the organization also say he needs to become less passive, though his makeup and intelligence are considered pluses.