• Full name Marcus Robert Johnson
  • Born 12/11/2000 in Whitter, CA
  • Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
  • School Duke
  • Drafted in the 4th round (112th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2022 (signed for $510,000).
    View Draft Report
    Johnson was a reliable bullpen arm for Duke during his first two seasons, and in 2021 he posted a 3.05 ERA over 56 innings, while showing a fastball up to 97 mph, a slider that flashed plus and impressive control. With that sort of stuff and pitching ability, Johnson moved into the team’s Friday night starter role in 2022, where he had an up-and-down season. Johnson posted a 5.61 ERA over 69 innings, with solid strikeout (23.8 K%) and walk rates (7.8 BB%), but his stuff was inconsistent, and he got hit around more frequently in a starting role. His fastball sat around 92 mph and touched 95 with solid carry, and he also regularly mixed in his low-80s slider and mid-80s changeup. The breaking ball is a high-spin pitch in the 2,700-3,000 rpm range that continues to show plus potential, while his changeup was his most consistent bat-missing pitch—at a 36% whiff rate. His arm speed will slow at times, but there’s some solid tumble and fading life to the pitch. Johnson still has room to add strength to a large, 6-foot-6, 200-pound frame and while he has shown the command for a starting role, his stuff could play better in pro ball out of the pen.

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