When you think about first-round picks that have come through the Pittsburgh Pirates organization the names like ace Paul Skenes and 19-year-old shortstop Konnor Griffin immediately come to mind.
On Wednesday team brass promoted switch-hitting utility man Ronny Simon from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill the active roster spot left by the release of veteran designated hitter Marcel Ozuna. That leaves us wondering what’s going on with 2022 first round pick and No.4 overall pick Termarr Johnson, who’s once promising fast track to the majors has been halted.
Johnson Struggling But Battling Through It
It’s a shock for fans to see the smooth hitting Johnson to be batting .197 with Triple-A Indianapolis this season. Especially when you consider one of the main reasons the Pirates saw fit to draft him so high was his because of his abilities at the plate. The talented infielder is in the leadoff spot daily is still only 22-years-old, so there’s still plenty of time to figure it out.
Despite his struggles, Johnson has continued to show the maturity and confidence that made him such a high draft pick. He also has to say in an interview with MLB.
“I feel like you don’t necessarily learn how to be persistent unless you have situations where you need to be persistent, both on and off the field. Obviously, as a human, you only get to do this thing once. And I desire to do it right. I desire to do it at a high level every single day.”
No. 1 ranked high schooler senior, shortstop Termarr Johnson, has committed to Arizona State University! pic.twitter.com/7W4lAgSU21
— Farm To Fame (@FarmToFame_) May 10, 2022
Johnson’s High School Coach Talks About His Former Star Pupil
Johnson’s season-long struggles have even garnered the attention Reginald Austin who coached him at Mays High School in Georgia. Austin expressed how the pressure of always having the “can’t miss kid” label attached to him didn’t help Johnson.
He also says there were plenty of instances where Johnson expected to hit multiple homers in a game and when that didn’t happen, he didn’t take it too well, even though he secured multiple base hits in that same game.
“The biggest pressure he had to deal with was trying to be Superman at baseball at all times, Austin said.
In the same breath he used to tell Johnson that the game of baseball is a “failure sport,” and most fail more often than they succeed.
Johnson Stays Positive And Grounded
“I’m fortunate enough to, in pro ball, you play every day for six, seven months a lot of the year,” Johnson said, “to be able to learn from both the good and the bad things, the home runs, the stolen bases, the games we win. And even the errors, the strikeouts and everything that comes with baseball.”
“This season overall has been really good in its own way, learning a lot of really good life lessons,” Johnson said. “Obviously, it could be a little bit better on the field. But I believe the lessons that I’ve learned have strengthened me.”
Johnson is finding other ways to feel good about his play even though his struggles at the plate are real. Austin told Johnson to smile more and if he expects to ever come out of this funk he has to find the love for the game that he once possessed.
