Ty

Johnson

Johnson has allowed just one hit and the one run in 5 1/3 innings this spring. The 24-year-old, who was picked up from the Cubs in the Isaac Paredes trade in 2024, finished up last year 7-6 with a 2.61 ERA and a 149/38 K/BB in 110 1/3 innings for Double-A Montgomery. He’s going to need to come up with a better third pitch to make it as a starter, but he could surface as a middle reliever at some point in 2026.

Johnson, 22, was a 15th-round selection by the Cubs from the 2023 draft class. He has functioned primarily as a starter in his minor league career, but ultimately his path to the big leagues may be out of the bullpen. In 18 appearances (10 starts) between Single-A Myrtle Beach and High-A South Bend this season, Johnson has posted a 3.54 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and an 81/22 K/BB ratio across 61 innings of work.