When the Angels broke Spring Training last season, one of the most surpising additions to their roster was Ryan Johnson. After being selected in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft, Johnson skipped the minor leagues entirely to pitch out of the Angels' bullpen. Despite great strikeout numbers, Johnson posted a 7.36 ERA in the majors and was sent down to Single-A to develop himself into a starting pitcher. It was a confusing move at the time, but the Angels opting for the long term outlook with Johnson was probably the smarter choice.
In Single-A, Johnson immediately showed he was talented enough to dominate.