In Pittsburgh’s third spring training game, this time against the Toronto Blue Jays, 19-year old top Pirates prospect Termarr Johnson lit up the game log, even if the Pirates lost.
Johnson, the fourth overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Pirates, blasted not one, but two home runs against the Blue Jays in both of his at bats. In the top of the seventh, Johnson smacked a home run, going 103.1 miles per hour off the bat.
That homer put the Pirates on the board, cutting a Toronto lead to 6-2. But Johnson wasn’t done there. In his second at bat, this time in the top of the ninth inning, he smashed one even further out, at an even higher 104.1 miles per hour exit velocity.
That home run, a solo shot, made it an 8-4 ballgame.
These two swings, from a 19-year old, are impressive enough as is. But even more impressive? These home run swings came against MLB-caliber pitching.
His first homer came off Yimi Garcia, a nine year major league veteran who appeared in 73 games last season. Though Garcia had the second highest full-season ERA of his career (4.09), he was still a full time major leaguer.
Johnson’s second homer was hit off Genesis Cabrera, a five year major league pitcher who recorded a 2.66 ERA with the Blue Jays after arriving in Toronto via trade.
Look, I know it’s an incredibly small sample size, but hitting back to back homers off MLB pitchers as a 19-year old is insane. There’s plenty of reasons for Pirates fans to be excited for this kid.
He also shoved off some of the defensive skills as well, helping to turn a double play.
After what I thought was a bit of a shaky game by Johnson against the Baltimore Orioles, Johnson stepped up in the biggest way possible on both ends of the spectrum.
Johnson slashed .244/.422/.438 between Low-A and High-A ball last season. Across the 105 games he played in total, Johnson tallied 18 homers and 59 RBI. He also had a keen eye, earning over 100 walks in those games.
The bulk of his work came in Low-A with the Bradenton Marauders, where he batted .244, had 13 home runs, and 44 RBI in 75 games.
(Featured photo by Bryan Green)
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