It’s interesting that the team is calling up Johnson now. They recently called Nick Nelson back to the majors, which we all thought meant a return to the spot starting role he held a few years ago, but apparently the team is more interested in what Johnson might be able to do against the Marlins. Since he’s already on the 40-man roster, it makes it easier for them to bring him up (what the corresponding move is remains to be seen).
This is a bit of a result of not really having much depth in terms of starting options available to them if they continue to want Taijuan Walker to come out of the bullpen. There might be some kind of pitch count or innings limit on Johnson when he does arrive, so it could be that Walker makes his way into the game anyway, but it is interesting that they’d rather see Johnson over either Walker or Nelson. As far as what Johnson brings to the table, it’s best to show what Matt Winkelman sees from him.
Johnson’s primary pitch is his 4-seam fastball. In the past he has gotten it up to 98-99, but he is firmly 93-96, touch 97 with it. It has plus riding action, averaging 18 inches of induced vertical break. However, despite being only 6’1″, Johnson’s delivery is average extension and more over the top giving him a below average angle on the pitch. The result is a plus pitch, but one that isn’t quite as good as the raw IVB numbers would indicate.The slider/cutter conversation is slightly more messy because they look to blend. To me he throws a cutter at 87-89 and slider more 83-85. There is a lot of blend in between them, but the main difference is a couple more inches of horizontal break on the slider. The harder cutter has the potential to be a plus pitch with better command and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Phillies maybe get the slider a bit sweepier with time.
It’s always cool when a player makes his debut and having it against what amounts to a minor league lineup from Miami should benefit Johnson, so let’s hope there is some success he can build off of.
In something of a surprising move, the Phillies are giving one of the prospects acquired from Baltimore in the Gregory Soto trade his chance to make his MLB debut.
In all actuality, the deal is still to early to declare which team is a winner or loser, but it heavily leans in favor of what the Phillies have ended up coming back their way. Johnson and Moises Chace have looked very good backfilling the minors with pitching prospects with Johnson standing out in his time.
Johnson made two starts with Reading before moving up to Lehigh Valley and reaching the doorsteps to the majors. In three starts there, he’s only given up five hits over 16 innings, walking six and striking out thirteen, all while only allowing a single run.
Seth Johnson has given up only 5 hits and 1 ER in 3 starts with the Iron Pigs.
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