“Getting Better Every Day” | Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Termarr Johnson Already Looks Like A Lethal Bro Bomber

When the Pittsburgh Pirates selected second baseman/shortstop  Termarr Johnson with the fourth overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft, they knew they were getting a talent at the plate and in the field.

 

But what they didn’t expect was how fast he’d adjust to hitting against other top prospects at the minor league level.

Johnson was also part of history in the 2022 MLB, as for the first time picks 3-5 were all Black MLBbros, beginning with Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker, the aforementioned Johnson, and Washington National outfielder Elijah Green.

It was a surreal moment for Johnson, the one-time Arizona State Sun Devils commit, who was set to leave his home of Atlanta, Ga., for college life.

That is, until the Pirates, who’d been high on him for quite some time, chose him with the No.4 overall pick. And while it meant Johnson wouldn’t be headed to the “Valley of the Sun,” it still meant leaving home for the first time in his life.

Johnson Says Being on His Own Has Been a Huge Change

 

As a high schooler, Johnson always had the ability to call on his mom when in doubt, and as any mother will do, she’d help him get things in order. Now on his own, and while she can still help, it’s ultimately up to him to figure things out. In an interview with Pirates Beat, Johnson explained what he meant.

 

“Last year, I had to call my mom for everything. I had to figure out a way to get A’s in classes,” Johnson said. “It’s definitely a switch.

 

Now, I’m figuring out what I need to do to get ready for a baseball game, what I’m working on, and how I’m getting better every day. I’m grateful to just be in this position and be able to play baseball every day. I know a lot of kids would love to do it, and this is what I dreamed of.”

 

Johnson isn’t taking his opportunity lightly at all. In fact, the sweet-hitting Johnson was highly regarded, and many considered him to be the best prep hitter in the 2022 MLB Draft.

Johnson even mentioned that he’d heard himself compared to the likes of MLB greats Barry Bonds, Jose Ramirez, and Robinson Cano.

Big names come with lofty expectations attached to them, and that’s what’s already expected of the supremely talented Johnson.

 

Johnson didn’t burst on the scene during last season’s 82-plate appearances with the FCL Pirates and Single-A Bradenton batting a slash line of .222/.365/.366 isn’t exactly glowing. But for Johnson it was about getting his

 

feet wet, and that’s what he did. The opportunity to share the clubhouse with stars like Andrew McCutcheon who just reached the 2,000-hit plateau for his career. Bryan Reynolds and O’Neil Cruz also helped Johnson see what it takes daily to be a pro.

 

Johnson Used Last Season As 2023 Springboard

 

This season with the Single-A Bradenton Marauders, Johnson is hitting a respectable .248 with five homers and 23 RBI. His .829 OPS is one of the tops in all of Single-A. He’s also boasting a .416 OBP this season.

 

The now 19-year-old had one of the better games of his young career on his birthday on June 11.

 

In the game, he hit a huge three-run homer in the team’s heartbreaking 9-8 extra-inning loss. The at-bat and eventual dinger showed why Johnson is the No.20 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

 

He’s expected to make his MLB debut in 2025, as he’ll look to help the Pirates recapture some of the yesteryear magic not seen near “Three Rivers” since the aforementioned Bonds and Bobby Bonilla played in “The Burgh.”