Again in early October, Termarr Johnson self-assuredly instructed MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis that he’s persevering with to work on being “the perfect hitter on the earth.” The 20-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates prospect didn’t put it fairly that approach after I spoke to him days later, however he did exude willpower and confidence when addressing his craft. That’s comprehensible. Drafted fourth total in 2022 out of Atlanta’s Mays Excessive Faculty, Johnson stays a high-ceiling hitter, albeit one whose developmental path hasn’t been as easy as many had anticipated.
His 2024 season included each stumbles and strides. The 5-foot-7, 190-pound center infielder logged a strong 121 wRC+ between Excessive-A Greensboro (487 plate appearances) and Double-A Altoona (57), however as our lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen wrote final summer time, Johnson’s “underlying contact information is fairly regarding.” Furthermore, whereas his 15 house runs had been indicative of plus energy potential, the accompanying .386 slugging share was a bit underwhelming. Johnson’s left-handed stroke is certainly able to inflicting harm, however additional fine-tuning is required earlier than that may occur on the large league degree.
Johnson mentioned his strategy to hitting shortly after the beginning of the Arizona Fall League season.
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David Laurila: You’re nonetheless simply 20 years previous. Do you are feeling that you simply’ve settled into your identification as a hitter?
Termarr Johnson: “For certain. I really feel like I’ve a fairly good swing, and I hit the ball arduous fairly typically, so I’m simply attempting to maintain strategy and convey the pitcher to me. I really feel like that places me in the perfect place doable. And to be sincere with you, I’m a special hitter each at-bat. I’m a special hitter primarily based on… like, each pitcher is completely different. Each pitch is completely different. Each scenario is completely different. I’ll be a special hitter if there’s a runner on base and I’m attempting to get him in, late within the sport, or I’ll be a special hitter after I’m main off the sport.”
Laurila: That’s mainly strategy. What about mechanically?
Johnson: “Once more, all the things is completely different. It’s completely different pitch-by-pitch. It varies, since you may need a man doing one thing and it’s a must to alter. You possibly can’t simply do one factor and anticipate the identical consequence. You’ve received to be adjustable.”
Laurila: That stated, I assume any changes you make are going to return off of a baseline. You’ve gotten a core stance, a core swing…
Johnson: “It’s bizarre, man. It’s bizarre as a result of it appears to be like the identical. If I am going on video… I imply, actually, my swing feels completely different than the best way it appears to be like. You’d see the identical setup, the identical swing, however after I’m up there and it’s me versus the pitcher, one thing is all the time completely different.”
Laurila: Adjustability apart, are you typically seeking to catch the ball out entrance, or are you extra seeking to let it journey?
Johnson: “It’s pitcher particular. You don’t need to attempt to catch the ball out entrance when a man is throwing a sinker, since you’re going to swing over it extra occasions than not. And also you don’t need to see it deep with a man who’s throwing 99 [mph]. You need to be on time. Once more, it’s going to be completely different each at-bat.”
Laurila: That’s a part of your identification on the plate…
Johnson: “I’m a hitter, man. There are a number of issues that I imagine make me who I’m. However there are additionally a number of coaches and lots of people I’ve had alongside the best way who’ve helped me change into who I’m. You’ve received to make use of these folks. You don’t need to be too caught up on what you’ve gotten occurring, however on the similar time, you need to imagine in what you’ve gotten occurring.”
Laurila: Are you large on scouting stories?
Johnson: “Probably not. I wish to see it with my eyes. You possibly can take a look at a scouting report, however the man is likely to be having one thing fully completely different on the market. He will not be having a really feel for some sort of pitch, so he’s going with one thing else. It varies. One thing I’ve realized on this sport is that it varies every day.”
Laurila: No matter what you’re seeing in a given sport, are you typically searching fastballs center and making changes from there?
Johnson: “Like I’ve been saying, man, it’s completely different. Typically you might be eager to simplify it and look to hit the ball again up the center. Typically you need to be particular on what you need to hit; possibly you’re taking a look at a pitch in a single spot. Issues like that. However believing in what you’re doing if you step up in that field is what places you in the perfect place doable.”
Laurila: What tends to be the problem if you’re not going nicely on the plate?
Johnson: “Timing. You all the time need to be on time. When you’re on time, you’re most likely in place. When you’re late, that doesn’t actually include too many good outcomes. One other issue could possibly be that you simply’re hitting the ball nicely, you’re simply hitting it proper at folks. There are eight fielders to fret about. Typically you’ve received to be that man who’s fortunate and isn’t hitting it to the place a man is at. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless about course of. You don’t need to be 100% primarily based on the consequence, as a result of the outcomes change. You are able to do all of it proper and nonetheless not get the consequence you need. It’s important to be targeted on what you’re doing, and the way you’re getting ready your self to do it.”
Laurila: There’s yet another factor we should always contact on. How a lot juice do you’ve gotten in your bat?
Johnson: “I imply, do you guys know that? Are you aware how a lot juice I’ve?
Laurila: I haven’t truly seen you play but.
Johnson: “You’ve by no means seen me play? Come on now, you’ve received to observe me play.”
Laurila: That’s one of many causes I’m out right here in Arizona…
Johnson: “You’ve received to see me play, man. With a purpose to know who I’m, you’ve received to observe the sport. Then you definately’ll discover some solutions, for certain.”