Will We See Brian Johnson in the Majors This Season?

(Photo Source: Yawkey Way Report)

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After one of the more impressive seasons for a Red Sox minor league pitcher in recent memory, Brian Johnson has continued to impress many with his Spring Training performance.

Johnson added another effective start to his Grapefruit League resume last Sunday afternoon (March 29) at JetBlue Park in Ft. Myers, FL, tossing four innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits and three strikeouts.

"I think this has been a very productive spring for him,'' Red Sox manager John Farrell told Sean McAdam of Comcast Sportsnet. "He has certainly helped his cause here. He's has a very good mound presence, good poise. He's attacked the strike zone and he works as a very quick pace. Sometimes that gets the better of him, where he might rush into some pitches. But he's shown very well.''

The only glaring number for Johnson is his eight walks in just 15 1/3 innings, which equates to 4.7 walks per nine innings.

"He's a guy who's typically has good command of the strike zone,'' Farrell said. "A couple of times during the course of his outings, there's been some base-on balls that have lead off an inning that result in a run.''

Despite a lack of command at times, it has not wavered the 24-year old first round draft pick's confidence.

"I'm confident with any pitch in any count," Johnson told Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com. "I threw a couple 2-2 changeups, 3-2 cutters and 3-2 curveballs today. Didn't always work out, but I'm confident when I throw it."

Johnson is coming off a season in which he was voted the Boston Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year, as well as earning a runner-up finish to fellow teammate, Henry Owens, in the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year Voting. Johnson finished 2014 with a 13-3 record with a 2.13 ERA in 25 starts between AA Portland and AAA Pawtucket.