- Full name Carter Johnson
- Born 02/22/2006 in
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: L / Throws: R
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Drafted in the 2nd round (56th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2024 (signed for $2,800,000).
View Draft Report
School: Oxford (Ala.) HS
Commit/Drafted: Alabama
Age At Draft: 18.4
BA Grade: 55/Extreme
Tools: Hit: 55. Power: 50. Run: 45. Field: 50. Arm: 50.
Johnson is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound Alabama high school shortstop who has developed a reputation as one of the best pure hitters in the prep ranks. While Johnson doesn’t jump off the page with any physical tools, he has a steady, reliable hit-first game that is driven by a relaxed and fluid lefthanded swing and outstanding strike-zone awareness. His track record of in-game performance is lengthy. Johnson’s swing is compact and quick, enabling him to handle pitches in all areas of the zone thanks to above-average bat-to-ball skills. He’s a line-drive hitter who can use the entire field, though scouts are mixed on exactly how much more strength and power he’ll add in the future. Johnson could grow into average in-game power thanks to his barrel skills, but he is unlikely to be a 25-home run threat. A shortstop now, Johnson could move to third base or second base in the future. He’s stretched at shortstop because of fringy pure speed and lateral quickness, though he should be fine at either second or third base, where he has enough arm to stick. Johnson lacks typical first-round tools, but it wouldn’t be shocking for him to slip into the back of the round to a team that believes he’ll be a plus pure hitter. If not, he should still be a day one talent, even though he is committed to Alabama.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
Track Record: Johnson was seen by many as a better prospect than PJ Morlando at the time of the 2024 draft. The Marlins ended up nabbing Johnson with the 56th pick and signed him for $2.8 million that was almost double slot value. After signing, Johnson went to Low-A and struggled mightily from both a results and process standpoint, though he was one of the youngest players in the Florida State League.
Scouting Report: Johnson doesn’t have any standout tools, but instead has a polished, well-rounded game. At the plate, he lacks bat speed to turn on good fastballs, but he makes up for it by being adept at using the whole field. His bat stays in the zone a long time, and despite an elevated strikeout rate in his debut, he has the chance to be an above-average hitter. He has the frame and youth to add more strength, though he has well below-average present power and it will likely never be one of his strengths. Johnson is an average runner and does not project to add significant value on the bases. He’s a sound defender with a solid-average arm, and he has enough actions to play a competent shortstop, though he could end up sliding to second base if he encounters teammates who are more dynamic and toolsier defenders.
The Future: Johnson’s best case outcome has him turning into something resembling Bryson Stott. He will likely head back to Low-A in 2025.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55.
Draft Prospects
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School: Oxford (Ala.) HS Commit/Drafted: Alabama
Age At Draft: 18.4
BA Grade: 55/Extreme
Tools: Hit: 55. Power: 50. Run: 45. Field: 50. Arm: 50.
Johnson is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound Alabama high school shortstop who has developed a reputation as one of the best pure hitters in the prep ranks. While Johnson doesn’t jump off the page with any physical tools, he has a steady, reliable hit-first game that is driven by a relaxed and fluid lefthanded swing and outstanding strike-zone awareness. His track record of in-game performance is lengthy. Johnson’s swing is compact and quick, enabling him to handle pitches in all areas of the zone thanks to above-average bat-to-ball skills. He’s a line-drive hitter who can use the entire field, though scouts are mixed on exactly how much more strength and power he’ll add in the future. Johnson could grow into average in-game power thanks to his barrel skills, but he is unlikely to be a 25-home run threat. A shortstop now, Johnson could move to third base or second base in the future. He’s stretched at shortstop because of fringy pure speed and lateral quickness, though he should be fine at either second or third base, where he has enough arm to stick. Johnson lacks typical first-round tools, but it wouldn’t be shocking for him to slip into the back of the round to a team that believes he’ll be a plus pure hitter. If not, he should still be a day one talent, even though he is committed to Alabama.
Top 100 Rankings
Scouting Reports
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School: Oxford (Ala.) HS Committed: Alabama
Age At Draft: 18.4
Johnson is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound shortstop who has developed a reputation as one of the best pure hitters in the prep class. Johnson doesn’t have any loud tools that jump off the page, but he has a steady, reliable game that’s driven by a relaxed and fluid lefthanded swing that could develop into plus pure hitting ability. Johnson’s swing is short and he maneuvers the barrel well to all quadrants of the zone and made contact within the zone at an 87% clip in 2023. He’s more of a line drive hitter presently who can use all fields and occasionally pull the ball down the line to the pull side, but he does have room to add more power and fill out his still-lean frame. Defensively, Johnson has reliable hands, fine actions and average arm strength that should give him a chance to stick at shortstop. Some scouts believe he will be a better fit for second base in the long run. Johnson will turn in average run times, but he is a fringy or below-average straight line runner and clocked a 7.0-second 60-yard dash at the 2023 East Coast Pro—where he put on a hitting clinic. Johnson is committed to Alabama but has the hitting chops to be selected in the first round.
