Angels' Ryan Johnson Debuts Without Minor League Experience

Ryan Johnson, a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, has made the Opening Day roster, becoming the first player since Garrett Crochet in 2020 to debut in MLB without any minor league experience. Drafted 74th overall in 2024 as a compensatory pick after the Angels lost Shohei Ohtani to free agency, Johnson is known for his fastball that reaches 100 mph and strong performance in spring training, posting a 3.97 ERA with 10 strikeouts over 11 1/3 innings. His aggressive promotion aligns with the Angels' recent trend of quickly advancing top draft picks, including Chase Silseth, Zach Neto, and Nolan Schanuel. Johnson's selection continues the Angels' strategy of bypassing traditional minor league development for top talents. He is expected to begin his major league career in the bullpen but has experience as a starter.