Termarr Johnson was graded as the best hitting prospect in this year's draft class by Baseball America, with his sweet swing being the source of that.
So who does that swing most closely resemble?
Johnson's brother, Tervont, taught him the swing he developed, so that is the literal answer. Tervont based it off of a couple players, namely Robinson Canó...
And Barry Bonds:
Derek Shelton went old-school with his pick: Terry Pendleton.
"I don't know if it was the way he set up or the bat speed," Shelton said. "That was the first guy that came into my head watching him."
As for Termarr and how he takes being compared to so many great hitters?
"It's a great compliment to have," Johnson said at PNC Park after signing Friday. "I know for me, I mix everything I see in one and try to make it work for my swing. Kind have my only little thing, and it's working right now. If I have to make any adjustments, I'm open to making those adjustments to get to PNC Park as soon as possible."
MLB DRAFT CLASS
The Pirates signed 19 of the 21 players they selected in this year's draft. The two omissions are 12th-round pick K.C. Hunt and 19th-rounder Yoel Tejada, both right-handed pitchers. 14th-round left-hander Julian Bosnic signed during the deadline day Monday.
The whole class is:
Round 1 (4th overall): SS Termarr Johnson, Mays H.S. (GA)
Competitive Balance Round A (36th overall): RHP Thomas Harrington, Campbell University
Round 2 (44th overall): LHP Hunter Barco, University of Florida
Round 3 (83rd overall): 3B Jack Brannigan, Notre Dame
Round 4 (110th overall): LHP Michael Kennedy, Troy H.S. (NY)
Round 5 (140th overall): OF Tres Gonzalez, Georgia Tech
Round 6 (170th overall): RHP Derek Diamond, Ole Miss
Round 7 (200th overall): LHP J.P. Massey, University of Minnesota
Round 8 (230th overall): RHP Cy Nielson, Brigham Young University
Round 9 (260th overall): RHP Mike Walsh, Yale -- $166,100 slot value
Round 10 (290th overall): OF Tanner Tredaway, University of Oklahoma -- $154,900 slot value
Round 11 (320th overall): LHP Dominic Perachi, Salve Regina University (RI)
Round 13 (380th overall): LHP Miguel Fulgencio, Cowley County Community College (KS)
Round 14 (410th overall): LHP Julian Bosnic, University of South Carolina
Round 15 (440th overall): 1B Josiah Sightler, University of South Carolina
Round 16 (470th overall): C Nick Cimillo, Rutgers
Round 17 (500th overall): RHP Jaycob Deese, University of Houston
Round 18 (530th overall): RHP Elijah Birdsong, University of the Pacific
Round 20 (590th overall): RHP Joshua Loeschorn, Long Island University
TOP 10 PROSPECTS
This is the new DKPS top-10 ranking of the Pirates' prospects, as selected -- and debated -- by our baseball staff of Chris Halicke, Jarrod Prugar, Cory Giger and myself.
With the draft signing period now closed, those players are now eligible for the list.
Each week, we'll move players up and down as warranted, though the final ranking's always intended to reflect the overarching potential for their performance upon arriving in Pittsburgh, rather than being a short-term hot/cold list. Also, if they're in the majors, even on an emergency basis, they won't be on this list. It's for players in the minors.
1. HENRY DAVIS (1)
Position: Catcher
Affiliate: Class AA Altoona
Acquired: Pirates' first-round pick, 2021
Age: 22
Stats: .268/.399/.483, 7 HR, 31 RBI
Davis is still on the shelf with the same left wrist injury that has kept him out most of the year, but Ben Cherington said on his 93.7 The Fan radio show Sunday that he expects Davis to play again this season. Even after missing most of a season, Davis' advanced bat and skillset make a 2023 promotion to the majors look probable.
2. TERMARR JOHNSON
Position: Shortstop
Affiliate: Florida Complex League
Acquired: Pirates' first-round pick, 2022
Age: 18
Stats: N/A
Johnson could end up being the organization's top prospect sooner rather than later, but the conscientiousness among the group was he needs to play in at least FCL games first before he gets that nod.
3. MIKE BURROWS (2)
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Affiliate: Class AAA Indianapolis
Acquired: Pirates' 11th-round pick, 2018
Age: 22
Stats: 4-4, 3.72 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 95 K, 25 BB
Burrows is a guest on the upcoming episode of Around The 412 Wednesday. Our Zachary Smith posted a teaser of his conversation with our pick for the Pirates' top pitching prospect:
I asked Mike Burrows about the differences from the regime that drafted him to the one in place now 👀
— Zachary Smith (@ZacharySmithPGH) August 2, 2022
Much more to come on @AroundThe412 pic.twitter.com/20zSKdgYe5
4. LIOVER PEGUERO (3)
Position: Shortstop
Affiliate: Class AA Altoona
Acquired: Trade with Diamondbacks, 2020
Age: 21
Stats: .263/.304/.404, 7 HR, 39 RBI
After being hit in the helmet by a pitch on July 15, Peguero made his return to the lineup on July 22, after the minor-league All-Star break. He's in a bit of a slump though and hasn't record a multi-hit game since July 12.
5. QUINN PRIESTER (4)
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Affiliate: Class AA Altoona
Acquired: Pirates' first-round pick, 2019
Age: 21
Stats: 1-2, 2.75 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 37 K, 10 BB
Arguably the hottest pitcher in the farm system, Priester is fully stretched out after missing the first chunk of the season with an oblique injury and has allowed just two earned runs with 21 strikeouts over his last four starts, which totaled 22 2/3 innings. He's using his changeup and two-seamer effectively, giving him a five-pitch mix, somewhat of a rarity for a Class AA pitcher.
6. NICK GONZALES (5)
Position: Second base
Affiliate: Class AA Altoona
Acquired: Pirates' first-round pick, 2020
Age: 23
Stats: .247/.366/.377, 4 HR, 15 RBIs
Cherington is optimistic Gonzales (foot) will return to game action before the end of the season too. Last week, director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said the expectation was for him to start playing in Florida Complex League games in the coming days, though it wouldn't be considered a true rehab assignment yet.
7. ANTHONY SOLOMETO (6)
Position: Left-handed pitcher
Affiliate: Low Class A Bradenton
Acquired: Pirates' second-round pick, 2021
Age: 19
Stats: 2-0, 4.03 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 25 K, 9 BB
Solometo recently was optioned to the FCL, but that was a paper move. He was officially recalled on July 26, and appeared in a game with our No. 8 prospect...
8. BUBBA CHANDLER (7)
Position: Right-handed pitcher, infielder
Affiliate: Class Low A Bradenton
Acquired: Pirates' third-round pick, 2021
Age: 19
Pitching stats: 0-1, 2.08 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 37 K, 14 BB
Hitting stats: .232/.371/.482, 4 HR, 15 RBI
I had a good chat with Chandler about his pitching and hitting development (and his relationship with Johnson) for this past week's Friday Insider. Read it here.
9. ENDY RODRIGUEZ (9)
Position: Catcher, Utility
Affiliate: High Class A Greensboro
Acquired: Trade with Mets/Padres, 2021
Age: 22
Stats: .295/.390/.553, 15 HR, 53 RBI
The hottest hitter in the Pirates' farm system, Rodriguez has a 27-game on-base streak and is slashing .383/.500/.734 with eight home runs, nine doubles and 24 RBIs during that stretch. Greensboro may be a prime hitter's park, but that is one of the best stretches we've seen any Pirate prospect have there. He may force the Pirates' hand to promote him to Altoona soon.
10. JI-HWAN BAE (8)
Position: Utility
Affiliate: Class AAA Indianapolis
Acquired: International free agent, 2018
Age: 22
Stats: .297/.364/.450, 8 HR, 41 RBI
Bae was pulled mid-game last Sunday, sparking speculation that he might be heading to Pittsburgh. Instead, he was placed on the injured list on July 25 with a strained left oblique. Cherington expects him to return to games before the end of the season.