| Seth Johnson | |
|---|---|
 Johnson with theCharleston RiverDogs in 2021 | |
| Philadelphia Phillies – No. 51 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1998-09-19)September 19, 1998 (age 27) Concord, North Carolina, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 8, 2024, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 1–2 |
| Earned run average | 9.00 |
| Strikeouts | 17 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Seth William Johnson (born September 19, 1998) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for thePhiladelphia Phillies ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.
Johnson attendedJay M. Robinson High School inConcord, North Carolina, where he playedbaseball. After graduating in 2016, he enrolled atLouisburg College. At Louisburg, he played mainly as ashortstop, hitting a combined .254 with nine home runs in his two seasons there.[1][2] During his career at Louisburg, he pitched a total of six innings.[3] After his sophomore year, he transferred toCampbell University and began focusing solely onpitching.[4] In 2019, his junior year at Campbell, he appeared in 14 games (11 starts), going 3–3 with a 4.61 ERA, striking out 81 batters over66+1⁄3 innings.[5]
TheTampa Bay Rays selected Johnson with the 40th overall pick in the2019 Major League Baseball draft.[6][7] He received asigning bonus of $1.72 million and made his professional debut with theRookie-levelGulf Coast League Rays.[8] After pitching ten scoreless innings over five games, he was promoted to thePrinceton Rays of theRookie AdvancedAppalachian League in August, with whom he finished the season, going 0–1 with a 5.14 ERA over seven innings.[9]
Johnson did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic.[10] He was assigned to theCharleston RiverDogs of theLow-A East for the 2021 season.[11] He appeared in 23 games (making 16 starts), pitching to a 6–6 record, a 2.88 ERA, and 115 strikeouts over93+2⁄3 innings.[12][13] He was assigned to theBowling Green Hot Rods of theHigh-ASouth Atlantic League to open the 2022 season.[14] In late May, he was placed on the injured list with forearm inflammation.[15] It was later announced that he had torn hisulnar collateral ligament in his elbow and would be undergoingTommy John surgery. Over 27 innings prior to the injury, he posted a 3.00 ERA with 41 strikeouts.[16]
The Rays traded Johnson to theBaltimore Orioles in a three-team trade on August 1, 2022, in which the Rays acquiredJosé Siri from theHouston Astros, the Astros acquiredTrey Mancini from Baltimore andJayden Murray from Tampa Bay, and the Orioles also acquiredChayce McDermott from the Astros.[17]
On November 15, 2022, the Orioles selected Johnson's contract and added him to the40-man roster to protect him from theRule 5 draft.[18] Johnson was optioned to the Triple-ANorfolk Tides to begin the 2023 season.[19] He made rehab appearances for the rookie–levelFlorida Complex League Orioles, Single–ADelmarva Shorebirds, High–AAberdeen IronBirds, and Double–ABowie Baysox as he continued his recovery from surgery. Johnson was again optioned to Triple–A Norfolk to begin the 2024 season.[20] However, he instead began the campaign with Bowie, and compiled a 2.63 ERA as he was 0-6 with 35 walks and 61 strikeouts over 18 starts.[21][22]
On July 30, 2024, the Orioles traded Johnson and pitcherMoisés Chace to thePhiladelphia Phillies in exchange for relieverGregory Soto.[23][22] He was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on September 8.[24][25] In 2.1 innings in his first major league season he gave up 8 hits, 3 walks, and 9 earned runs.[21]
Johnson was optioned to the Triple-ALehigh Valley IronPigs to begin the 2025 season.[26] He was recalled to Philadelphia on June 1, 2025, afterTaijuan Walker was moved to the bullpen.[27] On July 19, Johnson recorded his first career win, allowing one run over one inning of relief against theLos Angeles Angels.[28]