Chicago Cubs: Potential options in the upcoming MLB Amateur Draft
By Logan Whaley
More established talent
Seth Johnson, RHP, Campbell
Of the players in this list, Seth Johnson may be my favorite of the bunch. A big right-handed starting pitcher from Campbell University, Johnson stands at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds. He possesses a very smooth compact delivery, allowing him to display the power of his arm effortlessly.
The college starter deploys a four-pitch mix: fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup. Of the four, the fastball is undoubtedly Johnson’s most reliable pitch as he sits the mid-’90s and carries good location and control. Concerning the other three pitches, Johnson’s slider is admired as his second-best pitch. It has been regarded as being above-average, and if he can gain more movement progressing forward, it could be a lethal pitch.
His changeup and curveball are works in progress. At points, his curveball has been solid, however not yet developed enough to be a consistent go-to pitch. Working with his changeup is something which should help propel him moving into the future, as it is his newest pitch.
Last season at Campbell in 11 starts, Johnson finished 3-3 with a 4.72 ERA, 77 strikeouts in 61 innings. Impressively, he gave up just one home run over that span and allowed opposing hitters just a .248 average. If he can continue to work on his breaking pitches, Johnson has the potential to be someone special at the next level.