“Get Ready” – Termarr Johnson’s response when asked if he had any advice for Pirates fans anticipating his arrival in Pittsburgh. The fourth overall pick by the Pirates in the 2022 draft offered those two words, hoping to stir up some excitement from an otherwise dismal 2024 season.
Termarr, as a baseball player, is as electrifying as they get. He stands at just five-feet-seven and weighs 180 pounds, a body atypical for MLB. However, even the most casual of fans might stop and admire when he swings the bat. In terms of torque, think Ken Griffey Jr., but Temarr has a more unique home run trajectory to his swing.
When he makes contact, he’s thinking of a second deck. At PNC Park, the second deck in right field means landing in the Allegheny River. That’s where a Termarr Johnson home run is bound to land. The question is, when? There could be an entire reversal of fortunes in the National League Central in 2025. If the Pirates see themselves in contention, it will likely mean that Termarr Johnson is called up to contribute to the cause.
There has been so much movement of major players in the National League Central this offseason. The Pirates, though, have remained relatively static with their roster. There is no reason to rock the boat with what is the best 1-4 rotation in MLB. Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Jared Jones, and Bailey Falter will take the ball every fifth day. That situation requires at least two or three runs for the Pittsburgh Pirates to get the “W.”
In 2024, this proved too tall an order as the Pirates offense ranked 24th out of 30 teams regarding run support. Not Surprisingly, the Pirates finished last in the National League Central in 2024. At 13 games back of a wildcard when all was wrapped up, Pirates fans had full rights to complain and be disgruntled. They needed someone, anyone, to show up and hit bombs.
At times, they had teasers of the power potential, with O’Neil Cruz crushing balls at a league-leading exit velo. Bryan Reynolds also created a nice, tidy, and successful season with a .275, 24HR, 88 RBI stat line. Nobody, it seemed, could hit the timely home run when needed.
The acquisition of Spencer Horwitz may make a difference. After all, he provided much-needed offensive support for the Blue Jays last season when they most needed it. They, too, finished last season at the bottom of their division. Horwitz should have an eerily familiar feeling in response to what is expected of him.
Aside from Skenes, the Pirates’ other recent first-overall pick, catcher Henry Davis, was supposed to provide excellent power at the Major League level. So far, we only have a tiny spurt of what he can do. There is much more to come from Davis in 2025, but he has not entirely lived up to his highly-hyped arrival. There is a desperate need for production and power.
All hopes, offensively, rest with the arrival of 20-year-old sensation Termarr Johnson. He is the one who will provide that clutch moonshot, precise into the Allegheny River at moments when we need it most.
No pressure, Termarr! But what is expected of him is no secret. There has been a severe power shortage in Pittsburgh for some time now. Termarr Johnson has been hitting home runs his entire life. Pirates fans can hardly wait for him to don the home jersey at some point this coming season. Not to worry, Termarr, “They’re ready!”
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