Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

One of the more unheralded Day 3 picks of the 2023 Draft by the A’s who signed for $150,000 as a 13th-rounder out of Texas A&M, Johnston exceeded expectations after an inconsistent four-year career with the Aggies, beginning his first full pro season at Single-A Stockton and continuing through High-A Lansing before finishing at Double-Midland. Combined at the three levels, he posted a 3.88 ERA in 27 games (15 starts) with 137 strikeouts and 40 walks over 99 2/3 innings.

Johnston appears to have a much better feel for his three-pitch mix than he did in college. His fastball velocity typically varies from 89-94 mph and can touch up to 96. His split-changeup flashes plus as it continues developing as a true out pitch. His low-80s slider is improving but still a work in progress as it sometimes gives off the look of a slurvy-type offering.

Big-bodied at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Johnston has the size and arsenal to stay in a starting role, something that may have seemed like a long shot before he was drafted. His strike-throwing ability has clearly improved as a professional, which helped him quickly rise through multiple levels last season. Maintaining that control along with tightening up the breaking ball as a solid third pitch will be the keys to developing into a possible back-end rotation piece, with a floor of a multi-inning lefty reliever out of the bullpen.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

The A’s had 21 selections in the 2023 Draft and used 11 of those on pitching. All but two of them were college arms and that included some low-risk selections on Day 3 like Johnston, a Texas A&M senior who signed for $150,000 in Round 13 after spending four years largely pitching out of the Aggies’ bullpen, where he missed a ton of bats but had inconsistent results. With low expectations, Johnston began his first full season of pro ball at age 23 with Single-A Stockton, but threw so well out of the gate he earned a quick promotion up to High-A Lansing at the end of April and finished the year with Double-A Midland.

A 6-foot-3 left-hander, Johnston has shown a better feel for his three-pitch arsenal than some expected, given his college numbers. He adds and subtracts from his fastball, throwing it typically in the 89-94 mph range, though he’s shown in the past the ability to reach back for a 95 or 96-mph heater on occasion. The pitch has played up a bit because he can pitch north and south with it. His best pitch is now his split-changeup, which flashes plus and can be a true out pitch at times. His low-80s breaking ball can be on the slurvy side, but it can be effective and he finished his first full year with an impressive 12.4 K/9 rate.

Johnston’s ceiling is somewhat limited, and his splits from his senior year with the Aggies point to him being more effective against right-handed hitters, so he doesn’t have the arsenal to be a lefty specialist out of the bullpen. His ability to continue to throw more strikes than he did in college (5.2 BB/9 with Texas A&M vs. 3.6/9 in 2024) could allow him to develop into a back-end starter type, especially if he can tighten up his breaking ball.

Awards

MID Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
09/01/2024

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	09/10/2025	LHP Will Johnston assigned to Mesa Solar Sox.
	08/05/2025	LHP Will Johnston assigned to Midland RockHounds from Las Vegas Aviators.
	06/24/2025	LHP Will Johnston assigned to Las Vegas Aviators from Midland RockHounds.
	03/06/2025	activated LHP Will Johnston.
	02/24/2025	LHP Will Johnston assigned to Athletics.
	09/04/2024	LHP Will Johnston assigned to Midland RockHounds from Lansing Lugnuts.
	04/30/2024	LHP Will Johnston assigned to Lansing Lugnuts from Stockton Ports.
	04/03/2024	LHP Will Johnston assigned to Stockton Ports from ACL Athletics.
	08/05/2023	LHP Will Johnston assigned to ACL Athletics.
	07/17/2023	Oakland Athletics signed LHP Will Johnston.
	06/13/2023	LHP Will Johnston assigned to College Workout.
	02/24/2023	Texas A&M Aggies activated LHP Will Johnston.
	02/24/2023	LHP Will Johnston assigned to Texas A&M Aggies.
	05/03/2021	LHP Will Johnston assigned to Texas A&M Aggies.
	05/03/2021	LHP Will Johnston assigned to Texas A&M Aggies.