2 hours ago2 hr Author White Sox select Cameron Johnson. Another good value. LHP from Oklahoma. 184 on BA. Project with upside.184. Cameron Johnson LHPHt: 6'6" | Wt: 255 | B-T: L-LSchool: Oklahoma. Committed/Drafted: Cardinals ’23 (20). Age At Draft: 21.5.BA Grade/Risk: 50/ExtremeJohnson was a top 50 prospect in the 2023 draft out of IMG Academy thanks to a loud combination of physicality and velocity. He made it to campus at LSU where he threw just nine innings in the bullpen and struggled mightily with control. Johnson then transferred to Oklahoma, where he has made strike-throwing progress, but that still remains the most significant question of his profile. A 6-foot-6, 255-pound lefthander, Johnson posted a 4.36 ERA over 15 starts and 53.2 innings in 2026, with a 17.2% walk rate that represents a career-best mark. Before conference play kicked off, Johnson seemed to have taken a step forward with his strikes, but against SEC competition that faded away. He throws from a low three-quarters slot with great arm speed and sits in the mid 90s and touches 98 with both a four-seam and two-seam fastball. The two-seam variant is likely to be Johnson’s better option moving forward, thanks to his slot and east-west profile. His go-to secondary is a firm, upper-80s changeup with excellent fade and tumble that generated a 50% miss rate this spring. It’s an effective chase pitch but one he will need to throw in the zone more at the next level. Johnson also has a sweeping, low-spin slider around 80 mph but barely uses the pitch and has little feel to land it. There’s exciting pure stuff and upside with Johnson, but he’ll need to continue making strides to even profile as an effective big league reliever. Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by DirtySox
2 hours ago2 hr Author Cameron is 388 on O-S.Scouting ReportBats: L, Throws: LA famous arm going back to his high school days, Johnson was a 20th round pick by the Cardinals in 2023, but went unsigned. He is a big, physical lefty up to 98 with plenty of arm-side run and sink coming out of a deceptive, low-launch slot. It's a barrel-breaking, ground ball inducing bowling ball. That said, Johnson has been held back for most of his collegiate career by control, command and execution woes.Johnson's fastball will flash. That low-launch release does make for effective value at the top of the zone, especially when he can hold some vert. More often than not, Johnson is coming around the fastball and sinking it away from right-handed hitters. Given his velocity and unique angles, he'll likely find more and more value with the heater if his command and strike-quality trend in the right direction.He's begun spinning a better breaking ball on campus, a weapon against both-handed hitters with deeper shape but it needs to be thrown more firm. There's also a changeup that he's thrown more and more to right-handed hitters. His shapes and command for landing the pitch have taken big strides in Norman. Scouts are split on whether he'll be able to start at the next level, but this is an out-getter with a big, strong, workhorse frame. If the strikes and production are there he could go very early in 2026, especially as a lefty.Metrically Johnson still has a ton to like. He's got the floor of a leverage reliever if the strikes don't improve.
2 hours ago2 hr @DirtySox you've been wonderful this whole thread and I hope you hit every green light for the next month.
2 hours ago2 hr Author 3 minutes ago, PaleAleSox said:@DirtySox you've been wonderful this whole thread and I hope you hit every green light for the next month.Thank you. Had to savor this one. If all things go as planned, we won't be picking this high for a good while.
2 hours ago2 hr Author Just a reminder. There's definitely questions of signability in rounds 11 through 20. Teams can offer up to 150K without it counting towards the pool. Anything over counts against the pool. No harm no foul if players opt not to sign in this territory.
2 hours ago2 hr Like the pick at 15. Seems to be a kid near the talent of Contreras who could take a big jump if they’re able to help him land his secondary offerings more…Though, same could be said for tons of pitchers. 🤣
1 hour ago1 hr Author Astros took James Tronstein. Will be interesting to see if he signs. One of the guys I liked.
1 hour ago1 hr 6 minutes ago, DirtySox said:Thank you. Had to savor this one. If all things go as planned, we won't be picking this high for a good while.Yes, thank you for hanging around and curating. You do a great job. I very much appreciate your input.
1 hour ago1 hr Author Mayo called out the Casteel pick as one of his favorite picks post round 10. Love to hear it. Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by DirtySox
1 hour ago1 hr 3 minutes ago, DirtySox said:Mayo called out the Casteel pick as one of his favorite picks post round 10. Love to hear it.Yeah I liked the prep pitcher and CF.
1 hour ago1 hr 7 minutes ago, hi8is said:Someone explain NIL for me please.Players getting paid to play in college. They now have leverage to play in college as a school may pay them more or a simlar amount where it would make sense to go back to school. Or even take the nil and try for a higher price next year.
1 hour ago1 hr 8 minutes ago, hi8is said:Someone explain NIL for me please.They can pay players in college now (especially SEC and Big 10 schools) so HS players have even more leverage to insist on very big bonuses.
1 hour ago1 hr 10 minutes ago, hi8is said:Someone explain NIL for me please.College kids get paid, signing bonuses aren’t necessarily the same carrot they used to be.
1 hour ago1 hr Author White Sox select Darin Horn RHP out of Coastal Carolina. I got nothing on this one.
1 hour ago1 hr 18 minutes ago, hi8is said:Someone explain NIL for me please.I believe it stand for Name, Image, Likeness where they get money from products or advertising bearing any of those three. Something along those lines anyways
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