Johnson was promoted from Single-A Bradenton to High-A Greensboro on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old second baseman slashed .244/.419/.448 with 13 home runs and seven steals in 75 games at Single-A, and he had been walking more than striking out over the past six weeks, so it was time for a new challenge. Johnson's bat will carry him, so if he keeps hitting he will keep climbing through the minors and could make his big league debut in a couple years.
Johnson has gone 2-for-7 with a double and two RBI in two games for Single-A Bradenton since exiting Sunday's contest with a calf cramp.
Bradenton's off day Monday was all Johnson needed to overcome the calf issue. The 19-year-old got off to a delayed start to the 2023 season after battling a hamstring injury during the spring and struggled initially upon returning, but he's been one of the Florida State League's more productive hitters in recent weeks. Since the beginning of June, Johnson has slashed .242/.418/.539 while maintaining a 22.2 percent walk rate and 24.6 percent strikeout rate.
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Pirates' Termarr Johnson: Leaves game with calf cramp
Rotowire
Johnson left Sunday's game with Low-A Bradenton in the sixth inning with a calf cramp, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. He went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double in Bradenton's 9-4 win over Dunedin prior to his departure.
The fourth overall pick in last year's draft, Johnson is starting to live up to those lofty expectations. He's now homered in four of his last five games, including Sunday prior to his exit. Johnson's calf issue doesn't sound like anything that will derail his rhythm at the plate, but if the Pirates have any concerns with his health whatsoever, they will play things cautiously.
Pirates' Termarr Johnson: Cutting strikeouts at Single-A
Rotowire
Johnson is hitting .355 with five home runs and more walks (10) than strikeouts (eight) in his last nine games for Single-A Bradenton.
Strikeouts were a big issue for Johnson earlier in the year, so it's encouraging to see him dialed in at the plate. He now leads the Florida State League with a .425 OBP and ranks second with a 149 wRC+. Johnson has 10 errors in 31 games at second base this year, and he has only made five starts at shortstop.
Pirates' Termarr Johnson: Activated off minor-league IL
Rotowire
Johnson (hamstring) was activated off the injured list Friday at Single-A Bradenton, Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com reports.
Johnson missed the first few weeks of the Florida State League season after suffering a right hamstring strain in the early part of spring training, but he's all set now to continue his climb through the Pirates' minor-league system. The 18-year-old middle infielder was the No. 4 overall selection in the 2022 MLB Draft and posted an .880 OPS in a handful of games for Bradenton late last season.
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Pirates' Termarr Johnson: Goes on IL
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Single-A Bradenton placed Johnson (hamstring) on its 7-day injured list Friday.
Johnson will open the minor-league season on the shelf while he continues to recover from the right hamstring strain he suffered in late February. The 18-year-old infielder is taking part in workouts at extended spring training and could be ready to make his 2023 debut at some point before the end of April.
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Pirates' Termarr Johnson: Running again
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Johnson (hamstring) is in the midst of the second week of his running progression, but the Pirates believe he may need longer than his initial projected recovery timeline of 4-to-6 weeks before he's ready to make his 2023 debut, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Stumpf notes that Johnson hasn't hit any roadblocks in his recovery from the right hamstring strain he suffered in late February, but his season debut is expected to be pushed back further because the Pirates identified aspects of his running mechanics that they were wanting to fix. The No. 4 overall selection in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, Johnson finished his first professional season at Single-A Bradenton and will either report to that affiliate once healthy or make the jump to High-A Greensboro.
Pirates' Termarr Johnson: Will miss at least six total weeks
Rotowire
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk told reporters that Johnson (hamstring) is expected to miss at least six weeks from his original injury date of Feb. 21, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports.
Johnson strained his right hamstring while taking part in MLB camp. The fourth pick of the 2022 MLB Draft will be out of action for at least another few weeks, and the Pirates will certainly not rush one of their most important young players back onto the field. There should be more updates on Johnson's status in the coming weeks.
Pirates' Termarr Johnson: Returned to minor-league camp
Rotowire
Johnson (hamstring) was returned to minor-league camp by the Pirates on Friday.
Johnson strained his right hamstring earlier this week, leading to his exit from big-league camp before games even began. He wasn't in the mix for a roster spot anyway, with the 18-year-old top prospect likely to be assigned to A-ball once he's healthy.
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Pirates' Termarr Johnson: Dealing with hamstring strain
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Johnson is expected to be re-evaluated in 10-to-14 days after sustaining a right hamstring strain Tuesday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
How quickly Johnson returns to action has implications for his development as a prospect, but even if he quickly moves past the hamstring injury and impresses in the minors, he won't be a serious candidate to join the Pirates at any point in the 2023 season. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 first-year player draft slashed .278/.408/.472 with one home run and four stolen bases across 49 plate appearances in his first taste of full-season ball at Single-A Bradenton late last season.
