For as much as Termarr Johnson likes to talk, there’s a certain zen quality to how the Pirates’ 2022 first-round draft pick goes about his business. Introduced to affiliated ball less than a month after signing his first professional contract ... no big deal, still have to hit.
Meeting a bunch of new teammates, including some four or five years older? No problem. Be friendly. Learn some Spanish. Little by little.
About the only thing Johnson didn’t expect, or maybe caught him off guard, was the Pirates deciding he was ready to join Low-A Bradenton after just nine games in the Florida Complex League, a move they made with the 18-year-old Atlanta native hitting just .130 around the time the FCL closed.
“These guys believed in me,” Johnson said. “I’m glad they took a chance. I’m glad the opportunity presented itself, so I could have a chance to play with the Marauders.”
Johnson has made the decision look smart by showing that he’s a quick study. After that rocky start in rookie ball, Johnson was hitting .276 with a .722 OPS in 10 contests entering Monday’s off day.
Furthermore, all three of Johnson’s extra-base hits have come over the last six games, an indication that he’s getting more and more comfortable.
“Just sticking to my plan,” the left-handed-hitting Johnson said. “Just trying to stick to my approach and be consistent with that. I’m not so much worried about chasing hits or chasing anything stats-wise. I’m just trying to go out there, have a good approach and be a good situational hitter, do anything to help the team win.”
The transition to affiliated ball has been easier for Johnson because of an old friend and the addition of a new one. Johnson knew Bubba Chandler from competing against him in Georgia. Chandler lives with Anthony Solometo, and the group of future Pirates has already grown close.
They eat dinner together. In their spare time, Johnson spends several hours a day at the apartment Chandler and Solometo share — one once occupied by catcher Henry Davis. Johnson said Chandler and Solometo have “brought a family vibe to the organization.”
“We joke around a good bit,” Johnson added. “We’re learning a lot about each other.”
Johnson visits because he’s still living at Pirate City. While it puts Johnson physically closer to work and eliminates distractions, he is considering moving out soon. The finances should not be an issue considering he signed for an above-slot $7,219,000.
Drafted as a shortstop, Johnson has also played some second base, although he said his recent appearances there have been more about exposure to multiple positions than any sort of looming change.
“I think they’re just trying to keep me versatile,” Johnson said. “At the end of the day, I don’t know where I’ll be playing. I just want to help whatever team I’m on win. ... I feel like I can play any position on the field.”
Johnson won’t turn 19 until next summer, but he acts like someone much older. For those who don’t know much about a player many scouts have pegged as the best high school hitter in decades, his personality might come off as brash.
It’s not. It’s better described as confident and relentlessly positive.
That outlook is actually something that helped Johnson make friends with his new teammates. Instead of slotting into the role of chatterbox, where he was the guy everyone knew to turn to when the group needed a lift, Johnson used his talkative nature another way — by re-learning some of the Spanish he took in high school and meeting as many new people as possible.
“Kind of getting to know what these guys are like,” Johnson said. “I’m learning a lot about my teammates’ backgrounds and learning some Spanish, as well. It’s getting comfortable and also learning how to communicate best with everyone.”
The baseball adjustments haven’t been much, Johnson said. He’s thrilled to join a playoff race. The fans at LECOM Park have been a welcomed change over what he experienced at the Pirates’ spring training complex.
It’s also important to note that the game hasn’t felt faster or too big for someone who’s already a hugely important piece of the Pirates’ future, their second-ranked prospect behind Davis on MLB Pipeline’s latest list.
“I feel like you make the game as fast as you want to make it,” Johnson said. “You can think better and do what you need to do to help everybody win.”
All except one thing.
As smooth as his transition has been, Johnson is still missing one thing: his first home run. He’s also keenly aware that he has missed out on a couple, the ball dying at the warning track.
Johnson hopes — and expects — for that to change soon.
“It’s been a work in progress,” Johnson said, laughing. “I’ve had a lot of warning-track power shots. I feel like if God wants me to hit a home run, it’ll happen. I’m just being patient and sticking to God’s plan at this point.”
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: September 6, 2022, 9:30 a.m.
Updated: September 6, 2022, 1:59 p.m.
