Athletics right‑hander Seth Johnson had left‑knee surgery Tuesday, MLB.com’s Martín Gallegos reports. He should be healthy for next spring’s camp.
The 28‑year‑old was dealt to Oakland in early August when the A’s sent outfielder Colby Thomas to Philadelphia in a one‑for‑one swap. Johnson’s four‑seam tops out near 98 mph and he also mixes a splitter, sinker, slider and curveball.
His live arm sparked interest across the league. Drafted by Tampa Bay in 2019, he moved to Baltimore in a three‑team, five‑player deal that sent Trey Mancini to the Astros, then landed in Philadelphia at the 2024 deadline when Gregory Soto headed to the O’s.
So far, Johnson has logged 48 2/3 major‑league innings, posting a 6.84 ERA and a walk rate of 11.7%. He strikes out 24.7% of batters. In Triple‑A this season he’s worked 95 innings with a 3.79 ERA and a 27.5% strikeout rate, though his walk rate remains elevated at 11.8%.
Baltimore added him to the 40‑man roster in November 2022 to shield him from the Rule 5 draft. He used three option years in 2023‑2025; Philadelphia secured a fourth for 2026, but he’ll soon be out of options.
In my view, the A’s bullpen could benefit from his arm, especially as Mark Leiter Jr. heads into free agency and veteran depth thins. Veterans like Hogan Harris and Scott Blewett are aging, and the club struggles to sign free agents while playing in a hitter‑friendly minor‑league park.
Despite the promising toolkit, he hasn’t cracked major‑league success yet and now faces rehab. Will he earn a regular bullpen slot once he’s back on his feet?