Ryan Johnson, a young right-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, has made headlines by skipping the minor leagues entirely and landing a spot on the team's Opening Day roster after being drafted just last July. At 22 years old, Johnson is part of a growing trend in the Angels organization that has seen several players fast-tracked to the majors. He was selected as a compensatory pick following the departure of star Shohei Ohtani to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Johnson's impressive spring training performance, highlighted by a 3.97 ERA and a WHIP of 1.059 over 11.1 innings, convinced the Angels' front office of his readiness for Major League action.

This marks only the 24th instance in MLB history of a player jumping straight to the majors without prior minor league experience. Angels GM Perry Minasian has expressed confidence in Johnson's potential as a future starter. Johnson himself described this rapid ascent as 'surreal,' reflecting on how unexpected his swift progression has been. He has joined the ranks of other Angels players, like Nolan Schanuel and Zach Neto, who have recently made similar leaps into Major League Baseball, showcasing the Angels' strategy of rapidly promoting talent from within.

The Los Angeles Angels have made a surprising decision to include Ryan Johnson, a right-handed pitcher who has yet to play in the minors, on their opening day roster. Selected 74th overall in last year's draft as compensation for Shohei Ohtani's departure, Johnson impressed in college, boasting an 11-3 record with a 2.21 ERA and 151 strikeouts as a junior. Despite his lack of professional experience, he struck out Ohtani this spring. With a 3.97 ERA over 11.1 innings this spring, Johnson is expected to start the season in the Angels' bullpen but has starting experience as well.

This aggressive move follows the Angels' trend of fast-tracking recent draftees, showcasing a clear confidence in Johnson's potential to perform at the major league level right away.