Daniel Johnson

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #23 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Johnson made steady progress in his first two professional seasons as a member of the Nationals' system. The Indians acquired him as a part of the package for Yan Gomes in November 2018 and Johnson produced a strong season with his new organization the following year. He led the system in doubles (34) and ranked third in hits (140).
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Johnson has quick hands at the plate and did a good job of barreling balls, especially against righthanded pitching. His strength and bat speed gives him above-average raw power, which he's done a good job of getting to in games. It does come with a fair amount of swing and miss, however. Johnson has plus speed and arm strength and can play all three outfield positions. He probably fits best in right field and that's where he has the most experience.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Indians had a mostly open outfield picture as the offseason began. They added Johnson to their 40-man roster in November and he'll get a chance to compete for a job in spring training. Even if he starts 2020 in Triple-A Columbus he should find a way to Cleveland at some point during the season.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #14 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Johnson has continued to refine his game every year since being drafted in the fifth round in 2016 out of New Mexico State. After a mediocre debut in the New York Penn League in 2016, Johnson had a strong offensive campaign in the South Atlantic and Carolina Leagues in 2017, hitting 22 home runs and stealing 22 bases. The toolsy outfielder had a slow March to start 2018, but began heating up in May and hit .327/.406/.451 during the month before his season was derailed by a broken hamate bone. After the season, the Indians acquired Johnson, Jefry Rodriguez and Andruw Monasterio from the Nationals for Yan Gomes.
  
  Scouting Report: A fringe-average hitter, Johnson was starting to come into his own offensively before his injury, and scouts believe he has at least above-average raw power thanks to his quick hands and natural strength. While he lost a month of valuable at-bats, the Nationals were excited about the progress that he made in 2018 defensively, improving his jumps, route-running and throwing accuracy. Johnson has 70-grade arm strength and is starting to take advantage of it with better decision making. His plus speed allows him to play every outfield position, though his arm strength makes right field the best fit--and that's where he played the majority of his innings in 2018.
  
  The Future: A full season of health in the upper minors will give a more clear picture of what sort of offensive player Johnson really is, and with his defensive strides he could wind up debuting at some point late in 2019.
• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #8 prospect in 2018
  Johnson was one of the toolsiest players in the Four Corners area for the 2016 draft, but many teams were concerned about the rawness of his game. The Nationals drafted him in the fifth round after his junior season at New Mexico State, where he hit 12 home runs and stole 29 bases. After a mediocre pro debut in 2016 at short-season Auburn, Johnson began 2017 at low Class A Hagerstown and dominated. He finished second in the South Atlantic league in home runs (17) and fourth in slugging percentage (.529) despite moving to high Class A Potomac in late July. Johnson has quick hands and a whippy swing, with above-average raw power that he began to tap into thanks to better use of his legs. He also took a step forward with his pitch selection, lowering his strikeout rate after being promoted to the Carolina League. Johnson might be the strongest player in the system and is a plus runner with plus arm strength as well. Johnson still has details to iron out, such as his baserunning, throwing accuracy and outfield jumps. He has the speed to handle center field but profiles best in right field with his strong arm.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #222 prospect in 2016 draft
  The unheralded Johnson is one of the toolsiest players in the Four Corners area but also one of the least refined in baseball skills. In his second year with the Aggies after transferring from Northeast Oklahoma A&M, Johnson dominated the Western Athletic Conference, leading it in batting (.382), slugging (.630), home runs (12), total bases (155) and stolen bases (29). The lefthanded hitter (and thrower) is a plus-plus runner and his arm grades as an 80 for strength if not for accuracy. If he had any chance of getting the ball near the plate Johnson would bring mid-90s heat to the mound, but he has yet to step on the mound for the Aggies. He's a contact hitter who moves the ball around the field but can also put it over the fence. Johnson will appeal to an organization looking for raw athletes more than finished baseball players, as the 5-foot-10, 180-pounder needs polish.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Carolina League #18 prospect in 2017
  When Victor Robles was promoted from Potomac to Double-A Harrisburg, the P-Nats appeared to have lost a big part of the top of their order. Not for long. Johnson stepped into Robles' spot atop the batting order and in center field and filled in admirably for the top prospect. Johnson slugged 17 homers in low Class A before the promotion, then added five more with Potomac, including a ball that cleared the batter's eye at Down East in dead center field. He generates his power with above-average bat speed borne from strong hands and forearms. Defensively, Johnons is not the same slam-dunk center fielder as Robles but used his above-average speed and quick first step to make for what sometimes were suspect routes. The Nationals will leave him center field as long as possible but could move him to right field eventually (he has a plus arm) because they believe his power-speed profile--he was one of 11 players in the minors this year with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases--will profile at the position.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #13 prospect in 2017
  Johnson was one of the stars of the first half of the SAL season. He finished tied for second in home runs (17) despite being promoted out of the league in late July. Surgery has improved Johnson's eyesight and its effects were apparent. He showed the hand-eye coordination to spoil pitchers' pitches and work deep counts to find a pitch he could drive. His swing is compact, but he has the strength and bat speed to drive the ball. Johnson is a plus runner, but he doesn't read the ball off the bat well enough yet to project as a center fielder. He's fine in right field with a plus arm that plays very well. His speed plays better on the bases than out of the batter's box.

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Johnson made steady progress in his first two professional seasons as a member of the Nationals’ system. The Indians acquired him as a part of the package for Yan Gomes in November 2018 and Johnson produced a strong season with his new organization the following year. He led the system in doubles (34) and ranked third in hits (140).
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Johnson has quick hands at the plate and did a good job of barreling balls, especially against righthanded pitching. His strength and bat speed gives him above-average raw power, which he’s done a good job of getting to in games. It does come with a fair amount of swing and miss, however. Johnson has plus speed and arm strength and can play all three outfield positions. He probably fits best in right field and that’s where he has the most experience.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Indians had a mostly open outfield picture as the offseason began. They added Johnson to their 40-man roster in November and he’ll get a chance to compete for a job in spring training. Even if he starts 2020 in Triple-A Columbus he should find a way to Cleveland at some point during the season.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Johnson made steady progress in his first two professional seasons as a member of the Nationals' system. The Indians acquired him as a part of the package for Yan Gomes in November 2018 and Johnson produced a strong season with his new organization the following year. He led the system in doubles (34) and ranked third in hits (140).
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Johnson has quick hands at the plate and did a good job of barreling balls, especially against righthanded pitching. His strength and bat speed gives him above-average raw power, which he's done a good job of getting to in games. It does come with a fair amount of swing and miss, however. Johnson has plus speed and arm strength and can play all three outfield positions. He probably fits best in right field and that's where he has the most experience.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Indians had a mostly open outfield picture as the offseason began. They added Johnson to their 40-man roster in November and he'll get a chance to compete for a job in spring training. Even if he starts 2020 in Triple-A Columbus he should find a way to Cleveland at some point during the season.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  The toolsy outfielder started heating up at the plate after the first month of the season, but was placed on the disabled list on June 6 after having hamate surgery. The Nationals are most excited with his progress defensively, where he has improved his throwing accuracy, as well as his jumps and routes, giving him the ability to handle all three outfield positions, though he still fits best in right thanks to plus-plus arm strength.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Johnson was one of the toolsiest players in the Four Corners area for the 2016 draft, but many teams were concerned about the rawness of his game. The Nationals drafted him in the fifth round after his junior season at New Mexico State, where he hit 12 home runs and stole 29 bases. Scouting Report: After a mediocre pro debut in 2016 at short-season Auburn, Johnson began 2017 at low Class A Hagerstown and dominated. He finished second in the South Atlantic league in home runs (17) and fourth in slugging percentage (.529) despite moving to high Class A Potomac in late July. Johnson has quick hands and a whippy swing, with above-average raw power that he began to tap into thanks to better use of his legs. He also took a step forward with his pitch selection, lowering his strikeout rate after being promoted to the Carolina League. Johnson might be the strongest player in the system and is a plus runner with plus arm strength as well. The Future: Johnson still has details to iron out, such as his baserunning, throwing accuracy and outfield jumps. He has the speed to handle center field but profiles best in right field with his strong arm.