Termarr Johnson led off the game on Sunday for Greensboro with a home run.
The 2022 fourth overall pick hasn’t been hitting well this year in his second look at the High-A level, after a second half promotion in 2023. Johnson is batting .175/.369/.270, continuing to show an extreme walk rate and a lot of swing and miss from big cuts. The power hasn’t been there consistently, despite the three-true-outcomes style approach.
Johnson’s homer today was his third extra base hit of the season. He had a double and a triple last week across a two day stretch, and has had two singles and a home run since. Johnson’s skills at the plate are advanced, especially for a 19-year-old. He makes good adjustments and was drafted high for his contact abilities. He’s yet to produce results with either this season.
Perhaps he will build upon the home run from Sunday, which helped fuel a 4-1 victory for Greensboro. Here is a look at the opposite field shot.
Termarr Johnson starts the game with a bang!
MLB's top 2B prospect swats a leadoff homer for his first jack of the season for the @GSOHoppers.@Pirates | @MLBDevelops pic.twitter.com/yPqOU38oQo
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 28, 2024
PIRATES PROSPECT WATCH
INDIANAPOLIS had a double header postponed. They haven’t played since Thursday.
ALTOONA lost 6-5.
- LHP Anthony Solometo allowed four runs in 3.1 innings. All four runs came in the second inning of work, with Solometo allowing a walk and two singles, before a three run homer broke things open. Solometo struck out three and walked one.
- 2B Jackson Glenn went 3-for-4 with a walk and two doubles.
- DH Seth Beer went 1-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.
- RF Matt Fraizer had an interesting stat line, going 0-for-0 with three walks, a run, an RBI, and a sacrifice fly.
- LHP Nick Dombkowski pitched three innings, allowing an unearned run on two hits, with no walks and three strikeouts.
GREENSBORO won 4-1, led by Termarr Johnson’s leadoff home run.
- RHP Alessandro Ercolani pitched 2.1 shutout innings, striking out five. He allowed two hits and walked two, with three of those four base runners reaching in the first with one out. Ercolani got out of the jam with a strikeout and a pop out. He seemed to be on a limited pitch count, getting pulled after his 47th pitch, which was a strikeout pitch. I wrote about Ercolani recently, breaking down what makes him a guy to watch in the lower levels.
- 3B Jack Brannigan hit his third home run of the week, going 1-for-4 with a walk. He also stole his third base of the year.
- DH Hudson Head went 1-for-3 with a double.
- CF Luke Brown went 1-for-4 with two stolen bases.
- RHP Drake Fellows pitched 2.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits, with two strikeouts.
BRADENTON lost 5-3.
- RHP Khristian Curtis allowed two runs in 4.1 innings, dealing with control issues. Curtis only allowed one hit, but walked six batters, throwing 37 of his 75 pitches for strikes. He struck out two in his start.
- C Garret Forrester went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
- LF Eddy Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a stolen base.
- 1B Omar Alfonzo picked up his fifth double of the season.
- CF Shalin Polanco went 1-for-3 with his fourth double of the year and two RBIs.
STATCAST HEROES
Khristian Curtis has a six pitch mix, led by a fastbal that sat 95-96 on Sunday, getting up to 97.1 MPH. His sinker was the most effective pitch today, with a 30% called and swinging strike rate. He couldn’t throw his secondary pitches for strikes. STATS
TOMORROW’S SCHEDULE
- The minor leagues are off on Monday.
