Marauders' Johnson continues homer barrage

Across the country, people are cranking their air conditioners to combat the record-high temperatures.

The obvious explanation is that the dog days of summer are approaching, but another very possible culprit is Termarr Johnson, who is so scorching hot, he may be heating the entire nation.

The top-ranked Pirates prospect entered Sunday’s game with a downright silly 1.156 OPS this month, which he then proceeded to raise, going 2-for-4 with a double and a homer in Single-A Bradenton’s 9-4 win over Dunedin.

Johnson left the game early, however, after experiencing a calf cramp in the sixth inning. The cramp occurred after a pop-up to the shortstop, Johnson came up clutching his knee and was unable to run to first.

The long ball was the second baseman's 11th of the season and an encore of his performance on July 14, when he swatted a pair of jacks and went 4-for-4 in the Marauders' 8-6 win over the Blue Jays.

You may have already done the math, but if you haven’t, that’s three big flies in the past three games for the No. 26 prospect in baseball per Pipeline. Add on that he demolished a tater on July 8, and that's four homers in his past five games. The torrid stretch is right on par for Johnson, who has been getting progressively hotter as the we get deeper into the season and has the numbers to show it.

• April -- .567 OPS
• May -- .788 OPS
• June -- .847 OPS
• July, entering the game today -- 1.156 OPS

The slow start is understandable for the Georgia native, who started the season on the IL with a right hamstring injury that he suffered in mid-February.

After his performance on Friday, Johnson said he’s just staying with the game plan that he’s had all season.

“It was important to go out there and start the second half with a team win,” Johnson told Pipeline’s Stephanie Sheehan. “I just try to hit the ball hard right to the middle of the field where it came from. I’m just trying to stay with that approach and stay consistent with it.”

His homer on Sunday came in the first inning. With a 3-1 count and nobody on, Johnson walloped a towering shot to right field off No. 27 Blue Jays prospect Irv Carter. The shot put Bradenton up 1-0 early in the contest.

“I’m just trying to make sure I help get as many wins as I can,” Johnson told Sheehan. “Play the best game that I can, be the best teammate, be the best leader out there. If I do that for my team, I feel like I’ll be on the good side of things.”

The 2022 first rounder now has a slash line of .250/.416/.462 this season and will look to continue his success going forward.