Adam Johnson

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #10 prospect in 2003
  Known as a fiery competitor, Johnson made national headlines during spring training for his angry reaction to being sent to minor league camp. Then he went out and had a disappointing season at Triple-A Edmonton. He was the No. 2 overall pick in 2000, when he was the Big West Conference pitcher of the year and led NCAA Division I in strikeouts. Johnson is a different pitcher than he was at Cal State Fullerton, where he dominated opponents with a hard slider. His fastball sits in the 90-92 mph range and touches 94. His changeup has developed into an occasional plus offering as he has smoothed out his mechanics. The Pacific Coast League can be unkind to pitchers, and Johnson didn't help himself with his inconsistent location in the strike zone. His slider doesn't have the same bite it once did. He has been more of a control/command pitcher as a starter, while as a reliever he could have more of a power arsenal. Despite his struggles, Johnson will have a chance to claim a big league bullpen job in spring training. Many scouts project him to throw in the mid-90s and flourish as a potential closer prospect.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #5 prospect in 2002
  Johnson made an immediate impact in the organization after the Twins drafted him with the second overall choice in 2000. He agreed to a predraft deal worth $2.5 million, overpowered the high Class A Florida State League and ranked No. 1 on this list a year ago. His outstanding spring performance caught former manager Tom Kelly's eye and nearly earned Johnson a spot on the Opening Day roster in 2001. He made his major league debut in July. He has one of the livest arms in the system and is capable of touching 94-95 mph. As a starter, his fastball regularly sits in the 90-92 range. Though he has refined and compacted his delivery since college, his intense makeup and aggressive arm action point to a future as a closer. By the time he reached Minnesota last year, Johnson didn't have the same sharpness on his slider and curveball that he'd shown previously. He's still learning the finer points of pitching, including setting up hitters and changing speeds. The Twins didn't want to rush Johnson but couldn't help themselves. His long-term role has yet to be defined, but he'll continue to build up innings and experience in the minors before returning to Minnesota.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #1 prospect in 2001
  Johnson was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2000 draft after an outstanding junior year at Cal State Fullerton. He went 7-4, 2.72 with 166 strikeouts and 28 walks in 119 innings, setting school strikeout records for a season and a career 365. He also holds the San Diego County high school career strikeout mark. As a sophomore, he won 10 games and pitched in the College World Series, but he missed the 1999 super-regionals as one of four Titans suspended for throwing rocks off a building. Though he has first-round talent, signability was a major reason Johnson went second in the draft. Five lower picks received as much or more bonus money than Johnson's $2.5 million, which was $250,000 less than B.J. Garbe got when Minnesota took him fifth overall in 1999. But no one can complain with the early results. And at least he did sign, something that can't be said of supplemental first-rounder Aaron Heilman and second-rounder Taggert Bozied. Among Twins prospects who haven't already appeared in Minnesota, Johnson may be the closest to the majors. He locates his fastball well and has excellent mound presence. With his power repertoire--a consistent 91 mph fastball that touches 94-95 and a hard, late-breaking 85-86 mph slider--he could become a closer in the Billy Koch mold. He has a good approach and would benefit from a full summer in the minor leagues. Johnson is an emotional pitcher who sometimes comes off as arrogant. He needs to behave more professionally, but club officials like his focus on each game and on pitching in general. He could use more consistency with his curveball and slider. After frequently going deep in counts in his first professional start, he showed more command the rest of the season. For now, Johnson remains a starter. Koch, another early first-round pick, was a starter in the minor leagues before Toronto called him up in 1999. Expect Johnson to begin 2001 at Double-A New Britain with the possibility of ending it in Minnesota's rotation or bullpen. He already would have gotten his first look at Double-A in 2000, but New Britain finished in a tailspin and Fort Myers was in a pennant race.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Florida State League #5 prospect in 2000
  Johnson spent the spring at Cal State Fullerton, where he set school records for strikeouts in a season (166) and career (365). The Twins made him the No. 2 overall pick in June--signability played a key factor in that decision--and he continued to pitch well and post impressive strikeout numbers. With a fastball in the low 90s and a potentially dominant slider, Johnson has the tools for success. He pulls it all together with a bulldog approach and an advanced idea of how to attack hitters. "He really showed the stuff," Engle said. "He was poised, he had the stuff, had the command. He knew what he was doing."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #85 prospect in 2002
• Ranked Baseball America's #41 prospect in 2001

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Johnson spent the spring at Cal State Fullerton, where he set school records for strikeouts in a season (166) and career (365). The Twins made him the No. 2 overall pick in June--signability played a key factor in that decision--and he continued to pitch well and post impressive strikeout numbers. With a fastball in the low 90s and a potentially dominant slider, Johnson has the tools for success. He pulls it all together with a bulldog approach and an advanced idea of how to attack hitters. "He really showed the stuff," Engle said. "He was poised, he had the stuff, had the command. He knew what he was doing."