Pittsburgh Review

One of the prominent players in the Arizona Fall League, Termarr Johnson, provided both excitement and concern during his opening game on Tuesday night. The Pittsburgh Pirates' No. 3 prospect started off against Dylan Ray from the Diamondbacks with a home run after taking two strikes and a ball. Johnson's performance continued as he singled in his second appearance and walked in his third, contributing to a 2-for-4 night.

His efforts were crucial for the Scottsdale Scorpions' narrow 9-8 win over the Salt River Rafters. However, there was an alarming moment when Johnson appeared to suffer a serious injury. In the eighth inning, he swung hard at a pitch from Evan Justice of the Rockies and couldn't support himself on his right foot afterward. After consultation with trainers, he was carried off the field.

Fortunately, it turned out to be just a severe cramp in his right leg. Johnson later joined in celebrating the victory by doing the Griddy dance during postgame handshakes. "I guess I had a lot of movement today and I've just got to make sure that I do a better job before and get some food under me," Johnson explained regarding his cramp.

Johnson expressed confidence about playing again soon: "It was only a cramp... I've had a couple of those before and it just locked up real quick." He mentioned being ready for Wednesday's game if needed.

Selected fourth overall in the 2022 Draft from Mays High School in Atlanta, Johnson was highly anticipated as one of recent years' top high school hitters. Scouts praised him with comparisons to Wade Boggs for plate discipline and Vladimir Guerrero Sr.'s bat skills.

Despite showing potential power and drawing walks with impressive hand-eye coordination, Johnson's pro career hasn't entirely met expectations yet. His batting average stood at .239/.390/.386 over three seasons with Double-A experience this year but also featured a notable strikeout rate of 24 percent.

Nevertheless, at age 20, Johnson remains optimistic about his future: "I'm happy for what I've done... I'm working on being a better baseball player." He is determined to maintain his belief as "the best hitter in the world" while focusing on continual improvement: "Whatever it takes... I just got to make sure that I do my part."