‘THIS KID’S GOING TO LIKE THE LIGHTS’
High-end prospect Johnson makes most of time in camp
DUNEDIN, Fla. — Perhaps Derek Shelton unknowingly spoke it into existence. Prior to the start of his team’s game on Feb. 26 against the Toronto Blue Jays, Shelton, sitting atop the bench in the Pirates’ dugout, couldn’t help but beam with pride when talking about the franchise’s top infield prospect: Termarr Johnson.
“He’s not afraid, in a beautiful way,” Shelton said. “This kid’s going to like the lights, so that’s going to be a really good thing for the Pirates.”
While the lights weren’t on due to it being an afternoon contest, Johnson indeed did good things for the Pirates just a few hours after receiving praise from his skipper, smashing a pair of home runs in their 84 loss.
His first blast came in the top of the seventh inning. Behind in the count 0-2 with a runner on and one man out, Johnson sent a 392-foot shot over the right-center field fence that snapped a 17inning scoreless inning streak for the Pirates.
Johnson’s homer marked the club’s first of the spring season, and just two innings later, he did it again, connecting on a cutter plate, over which the was middle sent of over the the center field wall traveling at 104.1 miles per hour.
Only 19 years old, Johnson likely has some time before arriving to the North Shore. Although a pair of nice swings won’t speed up his road to the show, they could represent the result of having extended time around his big league teammates.
“Last year I was around, but for a short period of time because of the injury,” Johnson, who missed a chunk of spring training in 2023 due to a hamstring injury, said. “This year, I’ve been around the guys a little bit more, and I’m learning a lot more.” split between Class-A and Class-A+.
Despite his youth, those who’ve watched Johnson understand the physical tools are there, especially at the plate. Last year, in his first full season of minor league baseball, the Pirates’ first round pick in 2022 finished with 18 home runs, 101 walks and an .806 OPS after playing 105 total games
“He’s a 19-year-old kid that walked 100+ times in the minor leagues last year,” Shelton said. “You see maturity in him. You see maturity in the way he converses with his teammates, the way he converses with the staff. So yeah, this kid’s gonna be a really good player, and it’s just fun to be able to get him on the field watching.”
The Pirates aren’t the only ones who recognize Johnson’s potential. MLB Pipeline has him ranked as the game’s top second base prospect and the No. 44 overall player in the minor leagues.
Although there are still plenty of steps before his big league arrival, the young talent expressed that he will be ready when the time comes.
“I’ve always been ready,” Johnson said with a confident look in his eye. “You talk about the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m ready to walk into it. Honestly, I feel like I’m ready. I’m ready to do it.”
Until that day arrives, Johnson also understands that in times like now, where he is surrounded by players who are where he hopes to be, the best thing to do is watch and learn.
“Just watching, honestly, and taking the lessons that the veteran guys like Rowdy [Tellez], [Ke’Bryan Hayes] and Cutch,” Johnson said. “Whatever information they give me, take that in, understand it and just use it. It’s mostly mental. Those are the things that have helped me the most.”
But while he has plenty of admiration for his veteran teammates, when the chance comes to prove himself, be it in games or at Pirate City, Johnson, as his manager said, is not afraid of the moment.
“Honestly, coming out here, you have to be prepared,” Johnson said. “You have to be prepared for the hardest challenge. You gotta be prepared to face Aroldis Chapman every day. You have to be prepared to have your hardest at-bat every day. If you’re not, you’re not doing the right things.”