The Los Angeles Angels have been known to fast-track their young players to the Major Leagues. They seem to be regretting that move in regards to one of their pitchers.
Right-handed pitcher Ryan Johnson was a surprise story of the spring, as he broke camp with the club despite never pitching at the professional level.
The 74th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft became just the 24th player in MLB history since the draft was instituted in 1965 to bypass the minor leagues altogether. Safe to say that move didn’t exactly pan out how the Angels had hoped.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 26: The Los Angeles Angels bring in Ryan Johnson #32 to pitch against the Minnesota Twins In the third inning of a game at Target Field on April 26, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images
While Johnson became a trusted member of the bullpen, being used as one of the team’s highest-leverage relievers this season, his recent struggles became too much for the Halos to overcome. After sporting a 7.36 ERA across 14 appearances, the Angels decided to option him.
They didn’t just option him to Triple-A, though.
In a massive roster shuffle on Friday, the Angels announced that Johnson was being demoted to High-A.
#Angels transactions:
•Selected the contract of RHP Shaun Anderson (#64)
•Recalled OF Matthew Lugo (#15) from Triple-A Salt Lake
•Placed OF Gustavo Campero (left ankle inflammation) on 10-day injured list (retro to May 7)
•Following last night’s game, optioned RHP Ryan…— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) May 9, 2025
While it wouldn’t have been a surprise for Johnson to open the season in High-A, going from a high-leverage reliever in the big leagues to High-A is going to be quite an adjustment for the 22-year-old rookie.
Ryan Johnson went from the Angels’ No. 3 leverage reliever to High-A in the span of about 18 hours.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) May 9, 2025
When Johnson made the Opening Day roster, general manager Perry Minasian explained that the team felt that he was one of their better options for the big league bullpen.
“I’m big on your actions speak louder than your words, and when we tell our players, ‘The players that we feel are going to help us win games are the ones that are going to make the team,’ I’m big on following through with that,” Minasian said in March.
Added manager Ron Washington: “We didn’t give him anything. He took the job.”
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The Angels wasted no time in having Johnson make his debut, as he pitched in the team’s season opener on March 27 against the Chicago White Sox.
Johnson pitched a scoreless seventh inning, but came back out for the eighth and completely unraveled. He ended up allowing five earned runs while only recording two more outs.
Johnson was much better after that, going four straight appearances without allowing an earned run. He ended up allowing an earned run in just one total appearance over his next nine, and emerged as the seventh-inning option for the Angels.
Unfortunately, the last few outings haven’t been as kind to Johnson. He’s allowed at least one earned run in each of his last four outings, including a rough performance Thursday against the Blue Jays in which he allowed two hits, a walk, and three earned runs while failing to record an out.
While his ERA was 4.50 a few weeks ago, it skyrocketed to 7.36 before he was ultimately sent down.
The Angels will likely now put Johnson through a more traditional development. It’s possible they even stretch him out as a starting pitcher, as he was a starter in college.
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