The Braves have not been shy about demoting players this year. Whether it be Nate McLouth or Kenshin Kawakami going from the Majors to triple-A, or Jordan Schafer going from triple-A to double-A. The latest high-profile demotion comes in the form of 2006 first-round pick Cody Johnson, as he was just demoted from double-A Mississippi to high-A Myrtle Beach.
Certainly the Pelicans need some power in their lineup, and Johnson had great success there. Success he hasn't found in double-A. Johnson had dropped well below the Mendoza Line, with a .189 batting average in Mississippi. Add to that almost half of his at-bats which result in a strikeout (114 K in 233 AB), and Johnson certainly needs a change of scenery.
Hopefully the powerful prospect can get things sorted out in Myrtle Beach and get back on the right track. If fear though it will take a bit of a "come-to-Jesus" revelation of some kind to get him to change his approach to the plate.
0 recs | 28 comments
I wonder how long the organization will have patience with Johnson. From the time they drafted him it seemed like a waste (since he was a “reach” with our first pick when he was drafted), considering he was already a one-dimensional type of player with poor defense in left-field. It just seems like he hit a wall in his progression this year.
jwrocks - August 9, 2010
High-A to Double-A is probably the biggest jump aside from the bigs. It shouldn’t be a shock that CJ wasn’t quite up to it yet.
eaheckman10 - August 9, 2010
Being only 21...
He could turn out to be a late blooming power hitter the likes of Ryan Howard.. The organization just needs to be patient with him
braves077 - August 9, 2010
I agree.
I personally don’t think he will make it, but there’s no reason to give up on him
eaheckman10 - August 9, 2010
a good point, however I'm not sure the Howard comp is good
Howard wasn’t really a late bloomer, they just had no reason to be aggressive with him because Thome was blocking him in the majors. I’m not positive but I don’t think he ever had a sub-.800 OPS in the minors.
was385 - August 9, 2010
At the same age as Cody is now though...
Howard was in college, so Thome would have nothing to do with him still being far from AA at the moment.
Like others, I’m not giving up on him, but it certainly isn’t a good sign. Let’s hope he’s working on an adjusted swing in high A, not just hoping he can use the same approach and hope a return to his #s last year with Myrtle are good enough. They were good numbers, but it’s pretty obvious he needs to fix his swing before going any farther in the system.
Mr. Sanchez - August 9, 2010
THIS!
Sparhawk - August 9, 2010
at this point anything he gives us is gravy
you just can’t count on him unfortunately but he’ll always be one of those real intriguing guys because of that power. Even if he becomes a solid power bat off the bench in the future I’d be happy but I’m obviously not holding my breath.
was385 - August 9, 2010
I got to see him play in Chattanooga in May. I hope he will not dig in his heels and refuse to try a new approach. I’ve about given up on him, I left him off my top 30 prospect list. If he would accept the instruction and try to implement a few changes to his approach, maybe he could work his way back up thru the system, I hope so.
bighop - August 9, 2010
And oh how quickly our minor league concerns shifts from IF to OF
But I guess thats what happens with a good year so far from Mykal Jones, drafting Lipka, signing Salcedo and getting Pastronicky and seeing CJ and Schafer fall apart, Rose really slide after a hot start and Milligan banged up all year long.
JKowalek - August 9, 2010
yeap
not to mention Leonard and Cunningham. I still see Lipka in CF, though.
apoxonbothyourhouses - August 9, 2010
Cunningham is in the OF for us
unlike was rumored to be the plan on draft day.
Mr. Sanchez - August 9, 2010
I think our outfield is still looking ok. Don’t forget we also picked up Ramirez, by all accounts at the very least, this kid has potential. Maybe someone with more knowledge on him can add to this. I say we have a trade coming for a CF or LF this offseason. Too bad for Cody, I sure hope he can get it worked out! He still has time, 21 is still young! Hell, when I was 21 I was somewhere in the middle of Norway passed out drunk forgetting which direction my base was! Only to find it and decide it was a great idea to climb the fence of a foreign military installation since I couldn’t get thru the gate! If I can come back from something that dumb, to be sure this kid still has time to learn how to play ball! Goodluck Cody!
jdmarine - August 9, 2010
Reply Fail! Sorry Y’all!
jdmarine - August 9, 2010
other players taken AFTER Cody Johnson in 2006
Zach Britton – #85
Chris Tillman – #49
Trevor Cahill – #66
Justin Masterson – #71
Ryan Kalish – #283 (who we could REALLY use)
Desmond Jennings – #289 (OH MY GOD!!!!)
We did get Medlen in the 10th round.
Lonnie Chisenhall – #320
Mat Latos – #333
Mike Minor – #379 (to the Rays)
Alex White – #413
Grant Green – #423
Matt LaPorta – #433
goes to show you that, even WITH great scouts, baseball is very inexact.
apoxonbothyourhouses - August 9, 2010
To be fair I don’t think any of those guys you listed after Medlen signed.
cbwilk - August 10, 2010
He needs to be humbled
good move by Wren
themurph - August 9, 2010
Just show him pictures and quotes of Jeff Failcouer. That should work.
Sparhawk - August 9, 2010
Like This?
JKowalek - August 9, 2010
More like this:
“Jeff Francoeur is simply not a good enough hitter to play every day in the big leagues … after a rookie rush that landed him on the cover of Sports Illustrated, he has now had more than 4,000 plate appearances with a .307 on-base base percentage.”
- Joe Posnanski
danielduello - August 9, 2010
Yep and wonderful quotes like if OBP was so important, then why don’t they put it on the scoreboard.
Sparhawk - August 9, 2010
+1
Pavy848 - August 9, 2010
SI curse strikes again!
MBL1 - August 9, 2010 via mobile
I watched him here last time he was in Myrtle Beach and he does have excellent power WHEN he connects. I think he needs to work on his short game as I would call it and also hitting breaking pitches and changeups. Hold back the swing and be ready to punch balls to the outfield instead of swinging for homeruns all the time. But if he does get that sweet fastball then let it rip.
I’d say for the near future just learn to hit the slow stuff and sit on these pitches. He will swing late on a few fastballs but he will learn the breaking stuff. Right now he’s too one dimensional and pitchers know they don’t have to pitch fastballs. If he can show he can hit the breaking ball then he will get more fastballs.
BravesFTW - August 9, 2010
Sounds like his bats are scared, get some rum, a cigar and a chicken…..
bighop - August 9, 2010
FINALLY!
Johnson should have been demoted long ago. I saw him a lot this season…I never saw the “prospect” label. He is slow footed, a terrible fielder, average arm, and although he shows plus power (not since mid-May though), he can’t hit and is not willing to cut down his swing, especially in RBI situations that require a ground ball. He is not a professional hitter and guys who have played with him question his work ethic and desire.
With that said, he could be a hitter someday if he takes the right approach, but I think he will be a 1B/DH guy, not an OFer. I think the mental game is taking over his physical tools at this point. He seems content to do things his way and not make the adjustments needed to improve.
I think Wren just informed Johnson he is tired of the shennanigans and lack of production/effort, etc. As a fan watching Johnson perform, I see a player content with a million dollar bank account instead of a talented young man who will stop at nothing to be a MLBer.
I don’t know him and I may be unfair in the minds of those who do, but thus is the life of a pro athlete. I have paid to see him play several times, and never have I felt like he earned my money on the field.
I hope he gets things straightened out. Frank Wren just made a statement: Cody, your time is running out unless your production equals your ability!
Braves12 - August 9, 2010
demotions
there is one more at AAA that needs to be sent to AA . check the AAA stats and youll figure out who it is. you dont do these players any good fast tracking them thru the system or overrating them. when the mind is right the rear end generally follows
llabyug - August 10, 2010 via mobile
Who are you taking about? There is a very big differance between averages on the AAA team as far as like 4 guys hitting above .280 and the rest are hitting below .240. Are you referring to Hicks?
FreddieFreemanTime - August 10, 2010
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