Termarr Johnson hasn’t played a full season in the minor leagues, but MLB Pipeline already ranks the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2022 first-round pick as the No. 1 second-base prospect and among its top 30 players overall.
Ranked 26th, Johnson is the only Pirates player to crack the front half of MLB Pipeline’s updated top-100 prospect list, released Thursday. Three other Pirates prospects made the top 100: Catchers Endy Rodriguez (No. 55) and Henry Davis (No. 57) and right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester (No. 60).
PITT 2B prospect Termarr Johnson reports to Bradenton in excellent shape ready for a huge 2023. Ranked among the best at his position he’s focused on development & sharpening his IF skills #prospects #athlete pic.twitter.com/c9tRF3Hoji
— Florida Prospect Report (@FLProspectPod) January 26, 2023
The 18-year-old Johnson, selected fourth overall out of Atlanta’s Mays High School last July, earned a reputation as the best prep hitter to be selected in the draft in decades. He batted only .130 (3 for 23) in nine games at the Florida Complex League but slashed .275/.396/.450 with four doubles, one home run and six RBIs while drawing 10 walks against 13 strikeouts in 14 games at Low-A Bradenton.
MLB Pipeline ranked Johnson baseball’s top prospect at second base, where he played in 12 games for Bradenton. Nick Gonzales, the Pirates’ 2020 first-round pick, is ranked the No. 8 second baseman. Rodriguez and Davis were ranked the Nos. 6 and 7 catchers, respectively.
Where Johnson rose from No. 29 to 26 in the MLB Pipeline top-100 rankings, Rodriguez jumped from No. 97 to 55 after earning Pirates Minor League Player of the Year honors. Davis, the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, slipped 38 spots from 19. Priester, a 2019 first-rounder, dropped 16 spots from 44. Shortstop Liover Peguero (62) and Gonzales (93) both dropped out of the top 100.
Hot off the press!
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) January 27, 2023
Here's the brand-new 2023 Top 100 Prospects list: https://t.co/5mbVWx1Q7E pic.twitter.com/AMUsgkHXHg
The Baltimore Orioles have MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 overall prospect for the second consecutive year, as third baseman/shortstop Gunnar Henderson follows catcher Adley Rutschman, who made his major league debut last season.
Rounding out the top 10 prospects are Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll, New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker, New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Andrew Painter, Orioles righty Grayson Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, Boston Red Sox shortstop Marcelo Mayer and Cincinnati Reds third baseman/shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
