The Texas Rangers got a number of fantastic results from players participating in the ACL this season, both on the mound and at the plate, and record aside, that's the kind of process-over-results development the org is looking for at the lower levels. RHP Jacob Johnson is one of the prospects who turned in an excellent season on the mound, and he's now earned a promotion from the ACL Rangers to Low-A Hickory.
Johnson, 20, was Texas's 11th round pick (325th overall) in the 2025 draft out of Pearl River Community College in Mississippi. Born in Picayune, MS, he made his full-season debut this year in the Rangers' complex league.
He wasted no time making an impression. In his season debut on May 8 against the ACL Dodgers, Johnson threw 3.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits and a hit batter while striking out eight — a mark that stands as both his season-high and career-high.
Johnson made seven starts and one relief appearance across the ACL season, though a minor injury cost him about a month, sidelining him after his June 8 outing before he returned for a couple more appearances right before the ACL season ended.
Over 25.1 innings, he posted a 2.84 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, striking out 33 against 16 walks. Opposing hitters managed just a .174 average against him.
In pitches with tracked data available, Johnson worked primarily off a sinker, throwing it 50 times (68.5%) at an average of 95.3 mph. His slider (13 pitches, 17.8% usage, 83.7 mph) generated a 50% whiff rate, while his curveball (6 pitches, 8.2% usage) checked in at 82.3 mph. He also mixed in a four-seamer (3 pitches, 4.1% usage, 95.8 mph) that produced a 66.7% whiff rate, and a change-up (1 pitch, 1.4% usage, 87.5 mph) rounded out the arsenal — 73 pitches with tracked data in total. Both lefties and righties struggled against him, with right-handed batters hitting .170 (.485 OPS) and lefties .179 (.545 OPS).
Now it's on to Hickory, where Johnson will look to continue building on a strong pro debut.
Pitch data via TJStats.
