Termarr ready, willing and (AFL scare aside) able to be 'best hitter in the world'

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- One of the biggest names in the Arizona Fall League gave fans a thrill and a scare in his opening game Tuesday night.

Termarr Johnson led off against right-hander Dylan Ray (Diamondbacks) by taking two called strikes and a ball before staying back perfectly on a changeup and crushing it 393 feet to right field for a home run. The Pirates' No. 3 prospect also singled in his second plate appearance and walked in his third en route to a 2-for-4 night.

Johnson's performance helped the Scottsdale Scorpions to a 9-8 victory over the Salt River Rafters, but he exited early with what initially looked like a potentially serious injury. Batting in the top of the eighth, he viciously swung through a 1-1 changeup from left-hander Evan Justice (Rockies) and immediately couldn't put any weight on his right foot. After consulting with Scottsdale's trainers, he had to be carried off the field.

It was just a severe cramp in his right leg, though. Johnson recovered in time to celebrate the win by doing the Griddy in the postgame handshake line.

"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 said. "It was only a cramp. I took a pretty good hack at a pitch up and I had a calf just lock up on me. I've had a couple of those before and it just locked up real quick."

Johnson said he'd be ready to play in Scottsdale's game Wednesday if needed.

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The fourth overall pick in the 2022 Draft out of Mays High School in Atlanta, Johnson was one of the most hyped high school hitters in recent years. Some scouts put a top-of-the-scale 80 grade on his hitting ability, and one evaluator said Johnson combined Wade Boggs' plate discipline with Vladimir Guerrero Sr.'s bat-to-ball skills.

Johnson still has impressive hand-eye coordination and a quick left-handed swing, but it hasn't quite translated as expected in pro ball. He slashed .239/.390/.386 in 252 games over three seasons, showing solid power potential and drawing plenty of walks but also striking out a surprisingly high 24 percent rate.

To his credit, Johnson has advanced rapidly -- the 20-year-old reached Double-A by the end of this season. He still ranks No. 75 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list. And his belief in himself has not waned.

"I'm happy for what I've done," Johnson said. "I'm working on being a better baseball player, and it looks exactly how it's supposed to look. I'm just trying to continue to do whatever I can to continue to make sure that I'm in the best position possible, because I know I'm the best hitter in the world.

"Me continuing to work on me being the best in the world is very important to me. So whatever it takes, honestly, if it's [hitting] .500 or if it's .060 in order for me to be the best hitter in the world, it is what it is. I just got to make sure that I do my part."