2011 MCB Down on the Farm All-Star Team: OF Jamie Johnson

The Detroit Tigers Minor League affiliates seasons are now officially in the books. With another season completed, the time has come for me to announce the 2011 MCB Down on the Farm All-Star Team.

In an effort to reward less talked about prospects, only players that did not receive a call-up to Detroit this season were eligible. While you may recognize some of the names, remember these awards aren’t a pronouncement of the Tigers top prospects. The awards were based heavily upon the best overall statistical season per position.

Similar to previous years, the breakdown of the roster will consist of one player per position, a designated hitter, five starting pitchers and five relievers.

2011 MCB Down on the Farm All-Star Team: OF Jamie Johnson

TEAM: AA-Erie SeaWolves

STATS: 534 AB, .275/.376/.378/.754

33 doubles, 5 triple, 4 home runs, 51 RBI, 14 SB, 84 BB and 92 SO

BACKGROUND:

Jamie Johnson was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the seventh round of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft. The 5’9″, 180 pound, left-handed batter attended University of Oklahoma. His first full season of pro ball began in 2010 when he joined the Class-A West Michigan Whitecaps. In 443 at-bats, Johnson hit .283 with a .413 on-base-percentage for the Whitecaps that season. Now 24-years old, Johnson skipped Advanced-A Lakeland and was assigned to the AA-Erie last season.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS:

Johnson drives the ball to all fields with a decent amount of pop. He shows all the skills of a high average hitter who should continue to pick up more than his share of extra base hits. Scouts also grade Johnson consistently around average defensively.

Statically this season showed great promise for Johnson. He wasn’t particularly young for AA but it was a good sign that he handled the jump quite well. He posted career highs in doubles, home runs, RBI and stolen bases. Johnson also continued to prove that he can put the ball in play with gap power and take the occasional walk.

FUTURE:

The days of the Detroit Tigers having an over abundance of MLB ready top tier outfield prospects are in the past. The majority of their high-ceiling guys are 21-years-old or younger and are in the lower levels. What we’re seeing more of now is a lot more low-ceiling bench guys at the upper levels. Realistically Johnson profiles as “that guy”. That’s not really a knock on him or his skill-set either. Best case scenario, he has a solid spring and puts up solid numbers in AAA-Toledo. Injuries or trades would of course be instrumental in any future with the big league club.

The Tigers will likely continue to challenge Johnson and hope for the best. As I previously mentioned, I expect him to begin 2012 with the AAA-Toledo Mud Hens.

Congratulations to Jamie Johnson for an outstanding season.

2011 MCB Down on the Farm All-Stars

C Rob Brantly

3B Nick Castellanos  

SS Gustavo Nunez

2B Brandon Douglas

1B Jordan Lennerton

OF Danry Vasquez 

OF Avisail Garcia 

Next Up: DH

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