Pirates' Termarr Johnson: Dealing with bone bruise in foot
Rotowire
Johnson was removed from the Pirates' Spring Breakout game roster due to a bone bruise in his left foot, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
It's not clear how long the injury might keep Johnson sidelined. The 20-year-old finished last season at Double-A Altoona and is likely headed back there for the start of the 2025 campaign.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Termarr Johnson: Looks healthy for camp
Rotowire
Johnson (foot) was spotted taking grounders at second base during Thursday's spring training workout, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
After suffering a right foot injury in an Oct. 9 game in the Arizona Fall League, Johnson was limited to just 11 games for the Scottsdale Scorpions and slashed .250/.444/.475 with a home run and three stolen bases. The injury doesn't appear to be anything that is limiting him early on during the spring, and though he's attending big-league camp with the Pirates, Johnson will likely be headed to Double-A Altoona to begin the 2025 season. The 20-year-old infielder remains one of Pittsburgh's top prospects and could make a push for his big-league debut later in the season if he continues to maintain high walk rates while putting his power and speed on display in the upper levels of the minors.
Pirates' Termarr Johnson: Injures leg during AFL game
Rotowire
Johnson was removed from an Arizona Fall League game Tuesday with a right foot injury, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
Johnson wasn't able to put any weight on his right leg/foot after taking a swing and had to be carried off the field by trainers. The 20-year-old infielder had been looking to build off a season that saw him slash .235/.363/.383 across 546 plate appearances between High-A and Double-A, but it appears he could be held out of action for a while.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Termarr Johnson: Moves up to Double-A
Rotowire
The Pirates promoted Johnson from High-A Greensboro to Double-A Altoona on Sunday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The 20-year-old will move up to Altoona after slashing .236/.369/.382 with 13 home runs and 20 stolen bases across 489 plate appearances with Greensboro. Johnson has split time between second base and shortstop this season, but the keystone will likely be his long-term home once he reaches the big leagues.
Pirates' Termarr Johnson: Hitting below Mendoza Line
Rotowire
Johnson is hitting .172 with a .390 OBP, one home run and four steals in 31 games for High-A Greensboro.
Johnson was touted by some evaluators as the best prep hitter since Joe Mauer or Ken Griffey Jr. when he was drafted fourth overall in 2022, so it's a bit jarring to see his career average sitting at .227. His career OBP is .409, and that's the area of his game he has leaned into thus far, as he is swinging less than 45 percent of the time and making contact less than 65 percent of the time. Once his luck on balls in play (.242 BABIP) stabilizes, his season line should look a bit better, but it's certainly been a disappointing return trip to the Sally League for Johnson, who turns 20 in June.
Johnson was promoted from Single-A Bradenton to High-A Greensboro on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old second baseman slashed .244/.419/.448 with 13 home runs and seven steals in 75 games at Single-A, and he had been walking more than striking out over the past six weeks, so it was time for a new challenge. Johnson's bat will carry him, so if he keeps hitting he will keep climbing through the minors and could make his big league debut in a couple years.
