Jim Johnson

2013

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2012

Johnson picked up nine saves in 2011 and could be moving into the full-time closer role in 2012. He wasn't the typical blow-you-away closer, but his ability to keep the ball in the yard (0.5 HR/9IP) allowed him to keep a pristine 2.67 ERA. It's difficult to be a closer in the major leagues with just a 5.7 K/9IP, though - the only foolproof way to get a major league hitter out is to not allow him to make contact. If Johnson can maintain a 61.5 percent groundball rate, however, he has a chance.

2011

An elbow injury robbed Johnson of the majority of his season but he was effective when healthy. His 1.7 BB/9IP was by far the lowest walk rate that he's posted as a major leaguer while the 7.5 K/9IP was his career-best strikeout rate. Johnson was in the mix for saves at one point, but the upside he had as a potential closer has been erased by the return of Koji Uehara and the addition of Kevin Gregg.

2010

Johnson pitched well enough that he was given the closer's role when the club traded George Sherrill. He struggled mightily down the stretch (12.27 ERA in September), so the Orioles decided to pursue a closer on the free-agent market and signed Mike Gonzalez to take over the ninth inning. As a result, Johnson moves back into a setup role, but he's better suited for that spot anyway.

2009

Johnson had a breakthrough season as the set-up man for George Sherrill, but Chris Ray's return should add stability to the bullpen and could push Johnson to earlier appearances in the game. His 2006 and 2007 seasons in the minors were not that impressive, so beware of Johnson reverting back to form, even if he gets a shot at the rotation, though manager Dave Trembley suggested he wouldn't go that route. He also comes with some injury risk after being shut down in early September with a shoulder injury.

2008

The luster has rusted off Johnson's prospect status since he was named the Orioles' 2005 minor league pitcher of the year, as he put up a mediocre 4.07 ERA, 1.432 WHIP and 109:48 K:BB ratio in 148 innings at Triple-A. He had a decent Arizona Fall League campaign, but he's probably going to need to repeat the Triple-A level, particularly after the O's added Matt Albers and Troy Patton to the organization in the Miguel Tejada trade.

2007

In 2006, the Orioles� 2005 minor league pitcher of the year found that Double-A batters were harder to fool than those at Single-A. While Johnson�s walk rate actually improved a bit, his strikeout rate dropped from 9.40 to 7.15 per nine innings and his batting average against rose from .228 to .274, all sandwiched around an ill-advised major league spot start in which he was torched for eight runs in three innings. He�s still young enough at 23 to retain his prospect status, but he�s clearly not ready for the majors right now and will have to improve on his 2006 numbers while repeating Double-A in order to maintain his stature within the organization.

2006

Johnson is the latest Orioles minor league pitcher to come out of nowhere, putting up 12 wins, a 3.49 ERA and a 168/64 K/BB ratio en route to being named the 2005 Carolina League pitcher of the year and Orioles minor league pitcher of the year. The former fifth round pick must prove himself in the upper minors, but if he does he could be fast-tracked to the majors as Baltimore is thin at the position. Still, it'll be a couple years until Johnson reaches the majors on a regular basis, if at all.