Number One – Infielder Termarr Johnson
Pre-season Ranking: Unranked (was not in organization yet)
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ most recent first-round draft pick comes in as our number one prospect. Termarr Johnson was arguably the best pure hitter of the 2022 draft, and the Pittsburgh Pirates got him at the no. 4 pick. Johnson has five-tool potential and the chance to stick at shortstop, though even if he has to move to second base, he will still be a potential all-star and then some.
Johnson was arguably a better overall hitter than either Druw Jones or Jackson Holliday, the two high schoolers who went before Johnson. Johnson was highly praised for his plate discipline and plate vision. MLB Pipeline compared his plate coverage akin to Vlad Guerrero Sr. and his discipline to Wade Boggs. Those are some pretty good comparisons, and he does it with good power potential.
MLB Pipeline projects Johnson to grow into a 60-grade power hitter. FanGraphs also gives him a 60-future raw power grade. There’s a real chance of a .300/.400/.500 hitter within Johnson. On top of that, he has above-average speed, so he could swipe double-digit bags to go along with his power. His long-term home may end up being second base. Johnson doesn’t struggle to make plays at shortstop, but he has so-so range and a mediocre arm for the position. But MLB Pipeline projects him to be an above-average second base defender.
Johnson made his professional debut and batted a solid .222/.366/.365 with a .351 wOBA and 114 wRC+ in the small sample size. He did a lot better when he got moved from the Pittsburgh Pirates Florida Complex League affiliate to Bradenton, seeing his OPS rise to .846, his wOBA climb to .387, and his wRC+ jump to 139.
Johnson will turn 19 on June 11, so he’ll still be relatively young for A-Ball next year. But if he can play anything like his potential says he can, don’t be surprised if Johnson debuts at Greensboro by the end of the season. Johnson was arguably more talented than the prospects who were drafted ahead of him but was ranked lower because he doesn’t profile as a center fielder or shortstop.