Scouting Report

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 70 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 60 

Though he's a high schooler who projects as a second baseman, Johnson is a potential No. 1 overall choice because he might be the best pure prep hitter in decades. He has a track record of pummeling pitchers on the showcase circuit and some evaluators give his bat top-of-the-scale 80 grades. One scout gave him a double Hall of Famer comparison by calling him a combination of Wade Boggs' plate discipline and Vladimir Guerrero Sr.'s bat-to-ball skills. 

Johnson's hand-eye coordination and swing decisions make him an elite contact hitter from the left side of the plate. He isn't fazed by mid-90s fastballs or quality breaking balls, using his quick, compact stroke to drive the ball to all fields. Though his listed 5-foot-10 height might be a bit generous, his ability to barrel balls along with his bat speed and strength could make him a 25-30 homer threat in the big leagues. 

A shortstop in high school, Johnson will change positions as a pro because his quickness and arm are more average than plus. His hands work well in the field as well as at the plate and he profiles best at second base, where he should be at least a solid defender. He committed to Arizona State in May.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

The No. 4 pick in the 2022 Draft, and billed as one of the best pure high school hitters in recent memory, Johnson has gotten off to very slow starts in each of his first two full seasons. But in both years, he gained momentum down the stretch and earned a promotion up a level. So while a career .239 average heading into 2025 isn’t exactly what people projected, he did make it to Double-A at age 20 in his second full season before going on to the Arizona Fall League and Team USA in the Premier12 Tournament.

Small, compact and strong, Johnson is a left-handed hitter with elite pitch recognition skills. His 186 combined walks in 2023 and 2024 are second among all Minor Leaguers and while he swung and missed more than expected out of the gate, he’s largely kept the strikeouts in check. Johnson has impressive bat speed and the chance to get to even more power, but he needs to trust his all-fields approach more. He’ll get too big at times with his leg kick and hand movement, trying to put the ball 20 rows deep to his pull side. At his best, he can send line drives to the left side. The more he can trust that his power will come naturally, the better all-around hitter he can become. 

While the consensus continues to be that Johnson is best suited for second base long-term, he’ll continue to get reps at shortstop to challenge him and keep him athletic. The Pirates are still bullish on his offensive upside given his age and those underlying traits, with the hope that more reps at the upper levels will help unlock all of that potential.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

As the 2022 Draft approached, Johnson emerged as not only one of the best pure hitters in the class, but was perceived to be one of the best high school hitters in recent memory. After hitting well on the summer showcase tour and continuing to impress during his senior season in Georgia, his name was mentioned as a possible No. 1 pick before he landed at No. 4 with the Pirates. Slowed out of the gate by a hamstring injury to kick off his first full season, Johnson struggled at first, but found his footing to homer 18 times, draw over 100 walks and earn a late bump up to High-A Greensboro.

Known for his incredible hand-eye coordination, swing decisions and contact rates entering pro ball, it was concerning that Johnson was striking out at a high rate to kick off his 2023 campaign. But after he shook off the rust from the missed time early, his K rate plummeted, from a 35.2 percent rate through the end of May to 23.2 percent for the remainder of the season. He has big-time power potential with plus bat speed and consistently worked deep counts, which can lend itself to some strikeouts.

A shortstop as an amateur, Johnson has settled in professionally at second base and should be just fine at the keystone with decent range, hands and enough arm. His bat will carry him to the big leagues and there’s excitement about what he can do, assuming health, to live up to his Draft billing.

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

In the past, high school players who profiled as second basemen weren't thought of as premium Draft prospects. But Johnson was very much the exception to that rule as he emerged as one of the best pure prep hitters scouts had seen in years. He teed off against good competition throughout the summer showcase circuit and kept impressing in his senior season, landing him in the conversation for the Draft's No. 1 pick before being taken No. 4 overall by the Pirates and given a slightly over-slot bonus of $7.2 million to sign.

The left-handed hitter combines elite hand-eye coordination and swing decisions to help him post otherworldly contact rates. He turns around premium velocity and good breaking stuff alike with fast hands and a compact stroke. He can drive the ball to all fields, and despite his listed 5-foot-10 frame, he routinely barrels up the baseball and uses bat speed and strength to generate the kind of power that could lead to 25-plus homers annually.

While Johnson was a shortstop in high school and got a little time there during his brief pro debut in 2022, he’s going to be a second baseman moving forward. His average arm and speed fit there better, although he leaned out his frame and worked with a speed and agility coach this offseason to improve his range. He does have good hands and footwork and should be a very capable defender at the keystone. But it’s his bat that could help him get to the big leagues faster than the typical high school player.

Scouting grades: Hit: 70 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55 

Though he was a high schooler who projects as a second baseman, Johnson was a potential No. 1 overall choice because he was thought to be one of the best pure prep hitter in decades. He has a track record of pummeling pitchers on the showcase circuit and some evaluators give his bat top-of-the-scale 80 grades. One scout gave him a double Hall of Famer comparison by saying he has a combination of Wade Boggs' plate discipline and Vladimir Guerrero Sr.'s bat-to-ball skills, a reason why the Pirates were thrilled to get him with the No. 4 overall pick and sign him a slightly over-slot bonus just north of $7.2 million.

Johnson's hand-eye coordination and swing decisions make him an elite contact hitter from the left side of the plate. He isn't fazed by mid-90s fastballs or quality breaking balls, using his quick, compact stroke to drive the ball to all fields. Though his listed 5-foot-10 height might be a bit generous, his ability to barrel balls along with his bat speed and strength could make him a 25- to 30-homer threat in the big leagues. 

A shortstop in high school, Johnson will likely change positions as a pro because his quickness and arm are more average than plus. His hands work well in the field as well as at the plate and he profiles best at second base, where he should be at least a solid defender. 

Awards

Futures Skills Showcase Participant

Year	Team
2024

Futures Game Selection

Year	Team
2024

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2023

FSL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/06/2025	Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects activated 2B Termarr Johnson.
	03/06/2025	activated 2B Termarr Johnson.
	02/04/2025	Pittsburgh Pirates invited non-roster 2B Termarr Johnson to spring training.
	09/25/2024	2B Termarr Johnson assigned to Scottsdale Scorpions.
	08/27/2024	SS Termarr Johnson assigned to Altoona Curve from Greensboro Grasshoppers.
	07/16/2024	Greensboro Grasshoppers activated SS Termarr Johnson from the temporarily inactive list.
	07/14/2024	National League Futures activated SS Termarr Johnson.
	07/12/2024	Greensboro Grasshoppers placed SS Termarr Johnson on the temporarily inactive list.
	03/07/2024	Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects activated SS Termarr Johnson.
	01/30/2024	SS Termarr Johnson roster status changed by Pittsburgh Pirates.
	01/30/2024	Pittsburgh Pirates invited non-roster SS Termarr Johnson to spring training.
	08/01/2023	SS Termarr Johnson assigned to Greensboro Grasshoppers from Bradenton Marauders.
	08/01/2023	Greensboro Grasshoppers activated SS Termarr Johnson.
	08/01/2023	Greensboro Grasshoppers activated SS Termarr Johnson.
	04/27/2023	Pirates Organization activated SS Termarr Johnson.
	04/27/2023	Pirates Organization activated SS Termarr Johnson.
	04/21/2023	Bradenton Marauders activated SS Termarr Johnson from the 7-day injured list.
	04/07/2023	Bradenton Marauders placed SS Termarr Johnson on the 7-day injured list.
	02/02/2023	Pittsburgh Pirates invited non-roster SS Termarr Johnson to spring training.
	02/02/2023	SS Termarr Johnson roster status changed by Pittsburgh Pirates.
	08/24/2022	SS Termarr Johnson assigned to Bradenton Marauders from FCL Pirates.
	07/29/2022	Pittsburgh Pirates signed SS Termarr Johnson.
	07/29/2022	SS Termarr Johnson assigned to FCL Pirates.
	06/01/2022	SS Termarr Johnson and assigned to College Workout.
	09/23/2021	SS Termarr Johnson and assigned to National.
	08/18/2021	SS Termarr Johnson and assigned to PG East.
	07/13/2021	PG National 8 - Purple activated SS Termarr Johnson.
	07/08/2021	National activated SS Termarr Johnson.
	07/08/2021	National activated SS Termarr Johnson.