The Phillies optioned Johnson to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.
Johnson's stay in Philadelphia will last just one start, as he'll head back to Triple-A after he was lit up for nine earned runs over 2.1 innings during his MLB debut in Sunday's 10-1 loss to the Marlins. The Phillies recalled left-hander Tyler Gilbert to provide some extra coverage in the bullpen in the short term, but it's not immediately clear whom Philadelphia might turn to as Johnson's replacement in the rotation.
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Phillies' Seth Johnson: Blasted in debut
Rotowire
Johnson (0-1) took the loss Sunday, allowing nine runs on eight hits and three walks over 2.1 innings against the Marlins.
Johnson's major-league debut did not go as planned, as he allowed 11 batters to reach base and nine runs to score while collecting only seven outs. The right-handed newcomer was acquired from Baltimore prior to the trade deadline and was given the opportunity after allowing just one run across 16 innings spanning three starts at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Johnson presumably had an opportunity to secure a longer look from the Phillies had he shown some effectiveness, but it's tough to see him getting another opportunity after such a rough performance.
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Phillies' Seth Johnson: Promoted for Sunday's start
Rotowire
Johnson was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and will start Sunday against the Marlins.
Johnson will make his MLB debut Sunday in Miami, and a strong showing could give him a longer look as Philadelphia's No. 5 starter down the stretch. The 26-year-old was acquired from the Orioles ahead of the summer trade deadline and was dominant in three outings for Lehigh Valley with a 0.56 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB across 16 innings.
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Phillies' Seth Johnson: Slated to start Sunday
Rotowire
The Phillies plan to recall Johnson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start Sunday's game in Miami, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
Acquired from the Orioles in July, Johnson has posted a 2.33 ERA and 83:42 K:BB over 88.2 innings between the Double- and Triple-A levels in 2024. He's allowed just one run in three starts since joining Lehigh Valley last month. Johnson will be making his major-league debut Sunday, joining the rotation as the Phillies' new No. 5 starter in place of Tyler Phillips, who was optioned to Triple-A on Wednesday.
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Phillies' Seth Johnson: Traded to Phillies
Rotowire
The Orioles traded Johnson to Philadelphia on Tuesday in exchange for Gregory Soto, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Through 18 starts with Double-A Bowie, Johnson has recorded a 2.63 ERA and 1.32 WHIP through 65 innings this year. It's likely he heads to Double-A Reading to begin his tenure with the Phillies, though a promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley could come in the near future if the 25-year-old righty continues at his current pace.
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Orioles' Seth Johnson: Sent to minor-league camp
Rotowire
Johnson was optioned to minor-league camp by the Orioles on Friday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Johnson missed most of 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he ended the year healthy and made one scoreless appearance this spring before getting cut. The 25-year-old needs to make up for lost time in the minors but could push to debut at some point in 2024.
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Orioles' Seth Johnson: Moves to Double-A
Rotowire
Johnson (elbow) was promoted from High-A Aberdeen to Double-A Bowie on Sunday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
Johnson missed most of this season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He's allowed four runs and posted a 10:3 K:BB over 7.1 innings across the lowest three levels of the minors. With Aberdeen's season coming to an end, Johnson will get a few more appearances at Bowie to wrap up the campaign.
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Orioles' Seth Johnson: Rehabbing in FCL
Rotowire
Johnson (elbow) began a rehab assignment with the Orioles' Florida Complex League affiliate, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
Johnson was acquired last August as part of a three-team trade and subsequently underwent Tommy John surgery. He hasn't been ruled out for the year, but the right-hander will likely need multiple weeks of rehab appearances before settling in at either High-A Aberdeen or Double-A Bowie to close out the campaign.
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Orioles' Seth Johnson: Moved to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Johnson (elbow) will open the year on the 60-day injured list at Triple-A Norfolk.
Though he's listed on Norfolk's roster, Johnson has never pitched above the High-A level. Johnson would likely head to High-A or Double-A if he can ramp up before the end of the minor-league season. The hard-throwing righty underwent Tommy John surgery last August just after getting traded from the Rays to the Orioles as part of the three-team trade that sent Trey Mancini to Houston and Jose Siri to Tampa Bay. Johnson has late-inning stuff if he needs to move to the bullpen due to durability issues. With the move to the 60-day IL, Johnson doesn't count against Baltimore's 40-man roster.
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Orioles' Seth Johnson: Optioned to minors
Rotowire
Johnson (elbow) was optioned Friday to minor-league camp by the Orioles, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Johnson was added to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. The right-hander was acquired in a three-way trade between the Orioles, Rays and Astros from Tampa Bay in August and underwent Tommy John surgery a few days later. He likely won't be ready to help the Orioles until the 2024 season.
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Orioles' Seth Johnson: Eyeing late-season return
Rotowire
Johnson (elbow) said Tuesday that he will start his throwing program in mid-January with the goal of pitching in rehab games in the minors in August, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. "Pretty much I can do everything except for actually throwing a baseball or throwing medicine balls. As far as upper-body lifts, I'm pretty much cleared for all that stuff," Johnson said. "I'm hoping to be able to pitch by next August, maybe in some Complex League games."
The Orioles acquired Johnson in a three-way trade-deadline deal with the Rays and Astros on Aug. 1, even though Baltimore had the knowledge that the right-hander was scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery just two days later. Baltimore might have seen the impending procedure as an advantageous time to buy low on the 24-year-old, who impressed with a 3.00 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 41:11 K:BB in 27 innings over his seven starts at High-A Bowling Green in Tampa Bay's organization this past season before injuring his elbow. Johnson, who was added to the Orioles' 40-man roster earlier this month, appears to have thus far responded well to surgery, but he'll still spend most of the 2023 campaign in rehab mode. Even a small setback during his throwing program would likely prompt the Orioles to shut him down for the 2023 season with the hope of having him at 100 percent for spring training in 2024.
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Orioles' Seth Johnson: Added to 40-man roster
Rotowire
Johnson (elbow) was added to the Orioles' 40-man roster Tuesday.
It's a testament to Johnson's stuff that the Orioles not only traded for him at the deadline in the three-team trade that sent Trey Mancini to Houston and Jose Siri to Tampa Bay while knowing he needed Tommy John surgery, but they will protect him from the Rule 5 draft while he recovers despite the fact he has never pitched above High-A. Given the timing of the surgery and Johnson's lack upper-level work, it will be a small margin of error for him to make it as a big-league starter, but he could be a devastating reliever if his stuff returns to pre-injury form.
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Orioles' Seth Johnson: Needs TJS, traded in three-teamer
Rotowire
Johnson, who is about to undergo Tommy John surgery, was traded from the Rays to the Orioles on Monday as part of a three-team trade that sent Jose Siri to Tampa Bay and Trey Mancini to Houston, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Johnson was a very promising pitching prospect prior to suffering a torn UCL. He has premium stuff and logged a 3.00 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 41 strikeouts in 27 innings at High-A this year. Given that he turns 24 in September and might not return to action until the 2024 season, it's possible the Orioles could convert him to a reliever in the coming years to fast-track him to the majors.
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Rays' Seth Johnson: Dealing with forearm inflammation
Rotowire
High-A Bowling Green placed Johnson on the 7-day injured list Wednesday with right forearm inflammation, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays will send Johnson in for further imaging to determine the extent of the forearm injury, but initial X-rays apparently revealed no structural damage to his pitching arm. The 23-year-old has made seven starts for Bowling Green this season, logging a 3.00 ERA while striking out 41 over 27 innings.
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Rays' Seth Johnson: Added to 60-man pool
Rotowire
Johnson was added to the Rays' 60-man player pool Thursday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Johnson is a very intriguing pitching prospect, as he is very new to pitching but has already displayed mid-rotation upside. He displays four useable pitches and two or three of them could become plus offerings. As a converted position player, there may be even more untapped potential with Johnson in the coming years.
