Chase Johnson
| IP | 581 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.244 |
| WHIP | 1.391 |
| BB/9 | 3.78 |
| SO/9 | 7.978 |
- Full name Chase Lucas Johnson
- Born 01/09/1992 in Fallbrook, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
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Drafted in the 3rd round (101st overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2013 (signed for $440,000).
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Johnson saved eight games and made a team-leading 25 appearances as a sophomore, but he struggled with his control early this spring and fell out of favor, logging just 17 innings over 10 appearances, mostly in low-leverage situations. Still, scouts are intrigued by his 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame and his huge arm strength. Johnson can reach 97 mph and comfortably sits at 91-94 with limited effort. His heavy fastball is his bread and butter, and he lacks a dependable second pitch. Some scouts have seen him flash an average or slightly better changeup, and his slurvy breaking ball can be fringy at times but is usually below-average. Johnson pitches exclusively out of the stretch with a deliberate delivery that lacks deception. If he can use his lower half better and repeat his mechanics, his command could improve and he could develop into a power-armed reliever. Johnson is considered signable, so he could go as early as the fifth round.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Giants had to shut Johnson down before the 2016 season ended with shoulder fatigue, but before that he had thrived after moving back to the bullpen. He worked as a reliever at Cal Poly, but the Giants shifted him to the rotation to get more innings. Ultimately he fits best in relief because he struggles against lefthanded batters. Johnson's plus fastball sits 93-96 mph and touches 98. When he's throwing his two-seamer it has quality sink. He pairs it with an average curve that varies from loopy to hard but has good 12-to-6 break at its best. As a starter, Johnson relied on generating weak contact, but his pitches miss more bats in shorter stints. Johnson's control is still below-average, and he is prone to throwing wild pitches. He throws a below-average changeup when starting. Johnson's shoulder fatigue is not expected to be a lingering issue. He will jump to Triple-A Sacramento after being added to the 40-man roster after the 2016 season. He is a viable emergency relief option in 2017. -
Buried in a limited bullpen role as a Cal Poly junior, Johnson impressed the Giants with his easy velocity, so San Francisco made him a third-round pick in 2013, signing him for a below-slot $440,000. Johnson has blossomed with more consistent work as a starter in a pro ball. He allowed just five earned runs in his last eight starts at high Class A San Jose in 2015, earning a promotion to Double-A Richmond with a six-inning, 14-strikeout outing against Lancaster. Johnson takes an indirect path to the plate with a closed-off delivery. He sets up on the extreme first-base side of the rubber and lands with his front foot pointing towards the righthanded batter's box. While the crossfire nature of his delivery concerns some evaluators, it also makes him difficult for righthanded batters to handle--they hit just .238/.300/.303 in 2015--and he has shown average control. Johnson will carry 94-95 mph with heavy sink deep into games. His fastball is an easy plus pitch that he locates to both sides of the plate. His changeup is an average offering that he throws with conviction. His slider is much less consistent and grades as below-average. Johnson will return to Richmond in 2016 and profiles as back-of-the-rotation starter or nifty reliever. -
From a financial standpoint, Johnson made a great decision to go to Cal Poly. By turning down the Rangers in the 26th round out of high school, he landed a $440,000 bonus as a third-rounder in 2013. Developmentally, it cost him innings, as he worked just 107 for Cal Poly in three years. San Francisco has moved the former college closer into the rotation to get him consistent work. They also introduced a windup after he pitched exclusively from the stretch in college. Johnson is working on developing consistency. See him on the right night and he looks like a future mid-rotation power arm. On other nights, he looks overmatched. His 92-94 mph fastball will touch 96 at times. It's his one reliable pitch from start to start. In others starts, he had confidence in an average changeup. His slider is a tight pitch with some bite at its best, but it's a much slurvier offering at times. Johnson has a pitcher's body, quick arm and direct delivery, so there's lots to dream on. He'll move up to high Class A San Jose in 2015. -
Johnson wasn't used much as a Cal Poly junior in 2013, when he struggled early in the year with control issues and ended up logging just 17 innings over 10 appearances, mostly in low-leverage situations. The Giants had strong reports on him from his sophomore year and loved his arm strength, however, so he ended up being the first pitcher they took in the 2013 draft. Johnson has hit 97 mph but pitches with little effort at 92-94. He's flashed an average changeup at times and has some feel for a curveball, but he doesn't yet have a dependable secondary pitch. His mechanics are robotic and he isn't particularly athletic or agile, but the arm strength is genuine. Johnson pitched exclusively from the stretch in college, but the Giants want him to gain comfort using a windup because they want to try him as a starting pitcher. After three relief appearances in the Rookie-level Arizona League, he logged a 4.17 ERA in 10 starts at short-season Salem-Keizer. The Giants just hope to get him a healthy amount of innings at low Class A Augusta in 2014.
Draft Prospects
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Johnson saved eight games and made a team-leading 25 appearances as a sophomore, but he struggled with his control early this spring and fell out of favor, logging just 17 innings over 10 appearances, mostly in low-leverage situations. Still, scouts are intrigued by his 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame and his huge arm strength. Johnson can reach 97 mph and comfortably sits at 91-94 with limited effort. His heavy fastball is his bread and butter, and he lacks a dependable second pitch. Some scouts have seen him flash an average or slightly better changeup, and his slurvy breaking ball can be fringy at times but is usually below-average. Johnson pitches exclusively out of the stretch with a deliberate delivery that lacks deception. If he can use his lower half better and repeat his mechanics, his command could improve and he could develop into a power-armed reliever. Johnson is considered signable, so he could go as early as the fifth round.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Johnson, who relieved at Cal Poly and in his brief three-outing cameo in the Rookie-level Arizona League, impressed opposing managers as a starter for Salem-Keizer. The Giants chose him earlier than he was projected to go in the draft, and they are glad they did. ?His fastball is in the mid-90s and he has good feel, good pitchability and a good breaking ball,? Tri-City?s Saylor said. ?A lot of my ink in reports back to Denver is on him.? Johnson struggled in three late starts, giving up his first three pro home runs, but righted himself with a strong playoff outing. He touched 97 mph in college but despite his premium arm strength he has yet to perfect a slurvy breaking ball or changeup.
