Jordan Johnson Stats & Scouting Report

Top Rankings

Injuries wiped out almost all of Johnson's first two years at Cal State Northridge, but the Giants saw enough of him as a junior in 2014 to take a 23rd-round flier. That looks like an astute pick now that Johnson has emerged as one of the better arms in the system. He missed all but three games in his 2014 debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League with a lat strain and groin injury, but dominated AZL hitters in 2015 and handled a late-season jump to high Class A San Jose to replace the traded Keury Mella. Johnson has plus command of his 93-96 mph fastball that will touch 99. The Giants took away his slider since that pitch seemed to trigger arm issues in college, but he quickly has developed feel for a curveball that has already become an average offering. His changeup also earns average grades, and he quickly developed feel and conviction for it. Johnson's injury history is cause for concern, but he still has a ceiling as a midrotation starter owing to his clean, repeatable, over-the-top delivery, his athleticism and present control. He should return to San Jose to begin 2016.

No AZL prospect entered the picture after being so far off the radar as Johnson, who at age 21 is old for the league and had an injury-plagued career at Cal State Northridge. But the 2014 23rd-rounder now ranks among the Giants' better pitching prospects after emerging in seven AZL starts before finishing the year at high Class A San Jose. The key to Johnson's success is his excellent command of a plus fastball that sits 95 mph and reaches the high 90s. He knows how to pitch, challenges hitters and gets ahead in the count. The Giants believe they've mitigated Johnson's injury issues by having him abandon his slider, which was causing him to break down, replacing that pitch with a curveball that he picked up quickly. Both Johnson's curveball and changeup look like they'll play, and provide a nice complement to his heater. He repeats his over-the-top delivery. "The key for him is to stay healthy," Giants pitching coach Mario Rodriguez said. "He has the stuff to be at least a mid-rotation starter.""