Troy Johnston Continues Offensive Explosion At Triple-A
Miami Marlins first base prospect Troy Johnston has continued to produce eye-popping numbers since his promotion to Triple-A on July 25. The first baseman has slashed .397/.453/.707 with three home runs in 14 games since the call-up. This run comes on the heels of a dominant first half of the season with Double-A Pensacola that has piqued fantasy managers' interest in Johnston. In 97 games overall in 2023, the Gonzaga product has a .994 OPS with 21 HRs and 17 steals. Johnston is 26 years old with nearly 1,700 minor league plate appearances, so there is little left to prove before a potential promotion. With the Marlins still in contention, Johnston could make a fantasy impact down the stretch in 2023 and provides plenty of intrigue for next season.
Miami Marlins first baseman Troy Johnston mashed the ball as a junior at Gonzaga, putting his name on the draft radar. He ended up finding his way to Miami in the 17th round of the 2019 draft and has climbed through the lower levels of the minors ever since. Johnston's best tool is his hitting. The Marlins No. 25 prospect is a smart hitter with a sound approach and nice swing. He is able to send the ball to all parts of the field, and although he's never been a huge power hitter, he still boasts impressive bat speed. Defensively, Johnston has been relegated to first base due to a lack of speed and arm strength. He has spent just over one season at the position after originally being drafted as a corner outfielder. Johnston put on an impressive display of offense this past week, going 15-for-24 with four homers, 11 RBI, three walks and three strikeouts. Although that's a small sample size, it shows plenty of upside. Those stats show an ability to get base hits, hit for power, hit with runners in scoring position and to be smart when swinging at strikes and watching balls. He's still at least a couple of years removed from any potential MLB action, but Johnston's solid offensive production will put him on the fantasy radar if he does reach the Show.
