The Pittsburgh Pirates could see one of their former top draft picks reach the major leagues.
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Termarr Johnson with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft in hopes of him being part of the team’s core for the future.
That future is dangerously close to becoming now.
CBS Sports writer R.J. Anderson believes Johnson could reach the Pirates’ major league club as early as this season.
Johnson, the fourth pick in the 2022 draft, hasn’t blazed through the minors as quickly as classmate Jackson Holliday — nor has he lived up to draft night expectations that he would develop a plus-plus hit tool. Nevertheless, he’s getting closer to his big-league arrival by beginning this year in Double-A. Johnson has reliably been a productive hitter, even if the shape of that production (it’s been walk-heavy) hasn’t matched the forecasts. Double-A tends to be the ultimate minor-league proving ground. If Johnson can keep producing there, he just might find himself in The Show either late this year or early next.
In 12 games with Double-A Altoona, Johnson is batting .245, which is a step up from the .229 average he had last season.
His improvement is noticeable, and that’s a great sign for the 21-year-old infielder.
If the Pirates find themselves struggling late in the year, it might provide an opportunity for the team to bring him up for a cup of coffee in hopes that it will better prepare Johnson for what life may look like in the future for him in the big leagues.