Tyler Johnson
| IP | 145 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.6 |
| WHIP | 1.345 |
| BB/9 | 4.966 |
| SO/9 | 12.414 |
- Full name Tyler Burke Johnson
- Born 08/21/1995 in Richmond, VA
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School South Carolina
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Drafted in the 5th round (147th overall) by the Chicago White Sox in 2017 (signed for $390,000).
View Draft Report
A righthander from Midlothian, Va., Johnson emerged as an electric asset in the South Carolina bullpen as a sophomore, going 3-2, 2.42 with nine saves and 59 strikeouts to eight walks in 52 innings. Johnson made one start that year, throwing a complete-game in a regional against UNC Wilmington, striking out 11 and allowing just one run on five hits. Johnson was limited to just 25.2 innings this spring after suffering an injury in the rivalry series against Clemson in early March. Johnson suffered a stress reaction in his humerus, which created an inflammatory response and led to soreness, mainly in Johnson's bicep and tricep. There was no structural damage, but Johnson did miss about a month as he waited for the soreness to subside. Since then, Johnson has looked as sharp as ever, touching 100 mph twice post-injury and routinely sitting in the upper 90s. In the SEC tournament against Vanderbilt, Johnson struck out eight and allowed just one hit in 4.1 innings of relief to close out an important win for the Gamecocks. While he can touch triple digits, Johnson is at his most effective when he throws in the 95-98 mph range, which he's better able to command down in the zone. Command is still an area of concern with scouts, as is Johnson's breaking ball, which he hasn't found--and hasn't needed--at the college level. Because of those questions, Johnson has a reliever's profile. But his sheer arm strength gives him the chance to be a high-leverage bullpen arm if he can find an effective secondary pitch.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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TRACK RECORD: Johnson dealt with biceps and triceps inflammation and a stress reaction in college, but the White Sox were still high enough on his potential to take him in the fifth round. He dominated at the system's lower levels in 2018, but then was limited to just 31.1 innings in 2019 by a strained right lat muscle suffered in the spring.
SCOUTING REPORT: Johnson's allure comes from a mid-90s fastball and a slider that flashes plus but needs more consistency. The pitch had a lot of variance in 2019, and at times almost looked like an overhand curveball when he'd try to flip it in for an early-count strike. At the alternate training site, Johnson worked to get the slider to above-average or plus more often. He also has feel for an average changeup. Johnson also worked on learning the finer points of pitching instead of simply relying on pure velocity.
THE FUTURE: Johnson will likely start the season at Triple-A Charlotte and has a chance to reach the big leagues at some point in 2021. He was protected on the 40-man roster over the winter. -
Track Record: At South Carolina, Johnson was one of the most dominant relievers in college. Limited to 85.1 innings because of inflammation in his biceps and triceps and a stress reaction in his back, Johnson still found time to whiff 107 hitters. The White Sox used their fifth-round pick plus a $390,000 bonus to keep him from a senior season with the Gamecocks.
Scouting Report: Johnson's most overwhelming tool is his fastball, which sits in the mid 90s with angle and armside lift. He used the pitch to whiff 89 hitters in just 58 innings between two Class A levels. Impressively, Johnson accomplished that dominance without a knockout secondary pitch. Scouts rated his slider as a 40-grade offering on the 20-to-80 scouting scale, and his command was a tick below-average as well. The lack of a wipeout offspeed pitch and shaky command gives evaluators pause when considering how Johnson will fare at the upper levels.
The Future: After an excellent season at Kannapolis and Winston-Salem, Johnson is likely to move to Double-A Birmingham in 2019. -
A near-exclusive reliever at South Carolina, Johnson was taken in the fifth round in 2017 and signed to $390,000 bonus because of his supreme arm strength. Johnson dealt with injuries in college, including a stress reaction in his humerus and inflammation in his biceps and triceps. Johnson baffled hitters in the Southeastern Conference with a fastball that sat in the 95-98 mph range and touched triple-digits on occasion. That velocity, plus downhill angle and armside life, helped him strike out 107 hitters in 86 innings for the Gamecocks. He's found the sledding a little bit tougher in pro ball, where he'll need to improve his mechanics and sharpen his offspeed pitches. The White Sox would like to see Johnson stay on line longer through his delivery and would also like to see him improve his slider, which is a below-average pitch right now. He needs to throw that pitch with more conviction moving forward and currently, his changeup is ahead of his slider. Johnson should return to low Class A Kannapolis in 2018, and if everything goes well could become a fast-moving reliever.
Draft Prospects
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A righthander from Midlothian, Va., Johnson emerged as an electric asset in the South Carolina bullpen as a sophomore, going 3-2, 2.42 with nine saves and 59 strikeouts to eight walks in 52 innings. Johnson made one start that year, throwing a complete-game in a regional against UNC Wilmington, striking out 11 and allowing just one run on five hits. Johnson was limited to just 25.2 innings this spring after suffering an injury in the rivalry series against Clemson in early March. Johnson suffered a stress reaction in his humerus, which created an inflammatory response and led to soreness, mainly in Johnson's bicep and tricep. There was no structural damage, but Johnson did miss about a month as he waited for the soreness to subside. Since then, Johnson has looked as sharp as ever, touching 100 mph twice post-injury and routinely sitting in the upper 90s. In the SEC tournament against Vanderbilt, Johnson struck out eight and allowed just one hit in 4.1 innings of relief to close out an important win for the Gamecocks. While he can touch triple digits, Johnson is at his most effective when he throws in the 95-98 mph range, which he's better able to command down in the zone. Command is still an area of concern with scouts, as is Johnson's breaking ball, which he hasn't found--and hasn't needed--at the college level. Because of those questions, Johnson has a reliever's profile. But his sheer arm strength gives him the chance to be a high-leverage bullpen arm if he can find an effective secondary pitch.
Scouting Reports
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TRACK RECORD: Johnson dealt with biceps and triceps inflammation and a stress reaction in college, but the White Sox were still high enough on his potential to take him in the fifth round. He dominated at the system's lower levels in 2018, but then was limited to just 31.1 innings in 2019 by a strained right lat muscle suffered in the spring.
SCOUTING REPORT: Johnson's allure comes from a mid-90s fastball and a slider that flashes plus but needs more consistency. The pitch had a lot of variance in 2019, and at times almost looked like an overhand curveball when he'd try to flip it in for an early-count strike. At the alternate training site, Johnson worked to get the slider to above-average or plus more often. He also has feel for an average changeup. Johnson also worked on learning the finer points of pitching instead of simply relying on pure velocity.
THE FUTURE: Johnson will likely start the season at Triple-A Charlotte and has a chance to reach the big leagues at some point in 2021. He was protected on the 40-man roster over the winter. -
TRACK RECORD: Johnson dealt with biceps and triceps inflammation and a stress reaction in college, but the White Sox were still high enough on his potential to take him in the fifth round. He dominated at the system's lower levels in 2018, but then was limited to just 31.1 innings in 2019 by a strained right lat muscle suffered in the spring.
SCOUTING REPORT: Johnson's allure comes from a mid-90s fastball and a slider that flashes plus but needs more consistency. The pitch had a lot of variance in 2019, and at times almost looked like an overhand curveball when he'd try to flip it in for an early-count strike. At the alternate training site, Johnson worked to get the slider to above-average or plus more often. He also has feel for an average changeup. Johnson also worked on learning the finer points of pitching instead of simply relying on pure velocity.
THE FUTURE: Johnson will likely start the season at Triple-A Charlotte and has a chance to reach the big leagues at some point in 2021. He was protected on the 40-man roster over the winter.
