Twenty-two-year-old Los Angeles Angels right-hander Ryan Johnson, from Dallas, Texas, made the Opening Day roster after the organization selected his contract on March 25, according to his player profile.
Ryan Johnson, a 2024 second-round pick, has reportedly made the @Angels' Opening Day roster without throwing a single pitch in the Minors, per @JeffPassan.
More on the Halos' No. 7 prospect here: https://t.co/0PkERPihFj pic.twitter.com/U444Ht3Aak
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 25, 2025
Johnson hasn’t played a single game in the minors since being drafted in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft. He signed with the Angels for $1.75 million on July 24 following his junior year at Dallas Baptist University.
In three seasons at Dallas Baptist from 2022 through 2024, Johnson went 22-9 with a 3.46 ERA in 50 appearances and 40 starts. He threw two complete games and recorded one save across 252 innings, allowing 220 hits, 97 earned runs, 27 home runs, and 58 walks while striking out 314 batters. His WHIP was 1.103.
The Angels invited Johnson to MLB spring training as a non-roster player on February 4. He went 1-0 during camp, starting one game and making six appearances. Over 11.1 innings, he allowed 11 hits, five earned runs, two home runs, and one walk, while striking out 10 and facing 45 batters.
With the 74th overall pick, the Los Angeles Angels selected RHP Ryan Johnson. Unique, up-tempo delivery. Huge arm; FB has flirted w/triple digits, but he needs to optimize its shape. Advanced feel for plus sweeper. 51% whiff. Cutter will flash. Strikes! pic.twitter.com/IJPnWNOszU
— Peter Flaherty III (@PeterGFlaherty) July 15, 2024
Johnson is ranked No. 7 in the Angels’ MLBpipeline.com Top 30. Other top pitching prospects in the Angels MLBpipeline.com Top 30 who could see time during the 2025 season include Sam Aldegheri, ranked No. 5, and Caden Dana, ranked No. 2. Both begin the season assigned to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Angels manager Ron Washington, now in his second season, will work with the front office to determine where Johnson fits—whether in the rotation or bullpen.
Johnson will compete with the Angels’ bullpen in 2025 alongside Ian Anderson, Garrett McDaniels, Angel Perdomo, Brock Burke, Jose Quijada, Ryan Zeferjahn, and Ben Joyce, who are currently listed on the team’s depth chart.
Japanese left-hander Yusei Kikuchi will start for the Angels against the Chicago White Sox on March 27 in their season opener on the road at 4:10 p.m. EDT. Jose Soriano is scheduled to follow as the No. 2 starter on March 29, also against the White Sox, at 2:10 p.m. EDT. Other pitchers in the Angels rotation include Tyler Anderson, Reid Detmers, Kyle Hendricks, and Jack Kochanowicz.
According to MLB Pipeline, Johnson “threw his slider almost half of the time in 2024, an 80-81 mph breaker with a ton of lateral movement that missed bats at a 51-percent rate last year, according to Synergy.” His fastball “typically sits in the low 90s and can feature some armside run,” and he “is able to crank it up to triple digits at times.” He added an upper-80s cutter that “he now trusts more than his upper-70s curve and mid-80s changeup.”
MLB Pipeline listed Johnson’s scouting grades as fastball 55, curveball 45, slider 60, cutter 55, changeup 45, control 65, and overall 45.
(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
