Steve Johnson
| IP | 76 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.263 |
| WHIP | 1.382 |
| BB/9 | 5.566 |
| SO/9 | 10.184 |
- Full name Steven David Johnson
- Born 08/31/1987 in Baltimore, MD
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Saint Paul's School
- Debut 07/15/2012
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Drafted in the 13th round (406th overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005.
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On the season, Johnson threw a perfect game, another no-hitter, two one-hitters and two two-hitters. He finished the season with a 10-1, 0.45 record and 121 strikeouts in 71 innings to move into second place on Maryland's career wins list (34) and fifth place with 325 strikeouts. Johnson, whose father Dave pitched for the Pirates, Orioles and Tigers from 1987-93, isn't overpowering at 90-91 mph, but has a plus curveball to go with a cutter and changeup. He is poised and polished, and moves the ball around like a seasoned veteran. He plays third base when he doesn't pitch and set a state record for doubles in a season (19) and a career (41), while hitting .452. Johnson has committed to Boston College and may be a tough sign if he's not picked in the top six or eight rounds.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The son of former Orioles pitcher and current Baltimore broadcaster Dave Johnson, Steve made a long journey to realize his childhood dream of pitching in the big leagues for his hometown team. A Dodgers 13th-round pick out of a Baltimore-area high school in 2005, he first came to the Orioles with Josh Bell in a July 2009 trade for George Sherrill. That offseason, Johnson was left off Baltimore's 40-man roster and went to the Giants in the 2010 major league Rule 5 draft. San Francisco elected not to keep him and returned him to the Orioles for the 2011 season, after which he re-signed with Baltimore as a minor league free agent. He finally got summoned to Camden Yards last July, and he pitched well enough to earn a spot on the roster for the Orioles' American League Wild-Card Game. Johnson doesn't have loud stuff, instead thriving on feel and competitiveness. He has four fringy to average pitches in his 87-90 mph fastball, a 77-78 mph slider with bite, a get-me-over curveball and a changeup. He fits at the back of a rotation or in middle relief, and the Orioles like his versatility. He'll help the big league club in some capacity this season. -
Johnson did a lot of traveling in 2009, and the end result is that he'll compete for a major league job in spring training. He opened the season with the Dodgers, earning a promotion from high Class A to Double-A at midyear, then was sent to the Orioles along with third baseman Josh Bell in a deadline deal for George Sherrill. Johnson is the son of Baltimore broadcaster and former big leaguer Dave Johnson, who reportedly teared up when announcing the trade on the air. But the reunion didn't last long, as the pitching-rich Orioles left Johnson off their 40-man roster and lost him to San Francisco in the major league Rule 5 draft. Johnson features a four-seam fastball that sits at 88-91 mph and has three other solid-average pitches in his slider, curveball and changeup. He isn't overpowering but he has a good feel for pitching and goes after hitters. His stuff profiles for the back of a rotation or middle relief, and San Francisco will try to use him in the latter role in 2010. If he doesn't stick on the Giants' big league roster all season, he'll have to pass through waivers and be offered back to the Orioles for half his $50,000 drafting price -
Johnson's father Dave pitched 77 games for Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Detroit in 1987-93 and is a broadcaster for the Orioles. After a solid Hawaii Winter Baseball performance in 2007, Johnson repeated low Class A and earned the start in the Midwest League all-star game. He was leading the league in wins when he was promoted to the California League in late June. Despite struggling there, he led the organization with 12 victories and ranked third with 112 strikeouts. Johnson has a high-effort, aggressive delivery and gets under the ball at times but shows smarts and desire on the mound, compensating for stuff that isn't eye-popping. His velocity bumped up at Inland Empire, to 90-93 mph at times, but command can be an issue. Johnson also throws a get-it-over, overhand curve, a slider with some depth and bite and an average changeup. He projects as a big league reliever or back-end starter. He'll head back to the Cal League for 2009. -
When the Dodgers needed a pitcher to fill in at Double-A in May, they called up Johnson from extended spring training. Though he was just 18, he handled himself with poise and maturity. After two scoreless relief appearances, he went back to extended spring training before reporting to Rookie-level Ogden. Johnson, whose father Dave pitched for the Pirates, Orioles and Tigers from 1987-93, led the Pioneer League with 86 strikeouts. He relies on feel and command and has a knack for setting up hitters. His delivery is clean and efficient. His fastball comes in at 90-91 mph, and he can add and subtract from it, as well as cut it. Johnson's slider and curveball last summer have potential to be above-average offerings, based more on his ability to spot them rather than their shape. His changeup is below-average. His frame doesn't lend considerable room for growth. He's a candidate to climb to high Class A in 2007. He has a ceiling as a back-of-the-rotation starter.
Minor League Top Prospects
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The son of former big league pitcher Dave Johnson, Steve pitches like someone who grew up around the game and always keeps his poise on the mound. While his stuff isn't overwhelming, he led the Pioneer League with 86 strikeouts in 79 innings, a testament to his baseball IQ. He also pitched five scoreless innings in Double-A when the Dodgers promoted him to plug a hole in the bullpen. Johnson's out pitch had been a big, slow curveball in the past, but when he had a hard time throwing it for strikes this summer, he relied more often on an improved slider. He sets hitters up by pinpointing the location of his 89-91 mph fastball. As he matures physically, he could pick up more velocity. Johnson also has a cutter and a changeup in his arsenal. He pitches with clean mechanics and good control.
