Ryan Christopher Johnson...Enters 2026 ranked by Baseball America as Angels No. 2 overall prospect...Visited Eisenhower Elementary on May 3, 2025 as part of Angels Adopt-A-School program...Went 22-for-9 with a 3.46 ERA (252.0 IP - 97 ER) with 314 strikeouts in three seasons with Dallas Baptist University...Set DBU's single-season strikeout record (151) in 2024 and all-time strikeout record (314)...Majored in Business Entrepreneurship...In 2024 at Dallas Baptist, was Conference USA Pitcher of the Year and Named First Team All-American by Baseball America, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Perfect Game...Went 11-3 with a 2.21 ERA (106.0 IP . 26 ER) and 151 strikeouts...Led Conference USA in earned run average and strikeouts, and his 10.79 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked first among NCAA Division 1 pitchers (min. 90 IP)...Younger brother of M.D. Johnson, who holds Dallas Baptists NCAA Division I record with 29 wins and currently pitches in the Miami Marlins system...Enjoys golfing and hunting...Hobbies include watersports and skeet shooting...Homeschooled in high school...Originally signed by Angels scout KJ Hendricks.
2025
In first professional season, made Angels Opening Day roster and became the 24th player in MLB history to go straight from the Draft to the Majors without first playing in the Minor Leagues...Only previous Angels player to do so was LHP Jim Abbott in 1989...Made Major League Debut on Opening Day (March 27 at White Sox)...Was the first Angels player to make his MLB Debut on Opening Day since Shohei Ohtani in 2018 and the first LAA pitcher to do so since Darren O'Day in 2008...Recorded first career save in his second career professional appearance...Was fourth pitcher in Angels history to record a save within his first two Major League games, joining Marcus Gwyn (8/21/07 vs. NYY), Stu Cliburn (4/26/85 at SEA) and Luis Sanchez (4/11/81 at SEA)...With his first career win on April 1 at St. Louis, became first American League pitcher with a win and a save within his first three MLB games since Toronto's Roy Halladay in 1998-99...After making 12 relief appearances for Angels, was optioned to High-A Tri-City on May 9 and pitched as a starter for remainder of season with Dust Devils...Pitched to a 4-3 record with a 1.88 ERA (57.1 IP - 12 ER) and 65 strikeouts in his 12 Minor League starts...Earned Northwest League Player of the Week honors twice, and was selected as a Northwest League Postseason All-Star...On July 5 vs. Spokane, pitched a one-hit shutout with no walks and 12 strikeouts, allowing only a first inning single.
2024
Finished third season at Dallas Baptist University...Went 11-3 with a 2.21 ERA (106.0 IP – 26 ER) and 151 strikeouts...Led Conference USA in earned run average and strikeouts, and his 10.79 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked first among NCAA Division 1 pitchers (min. 90 IP)...Became Dallas Baptist University’s single-season (151) and all-time strikeout leader (314)...Notched double-digit strikeouts in six games, and reached a season-high 15 strikeouts on Mar. 22 and Apr. 19...Struck out at least seven hitters in all but three starts...Threw 10 quality starts in 16 outings, including eight in a row from Feb. 23 to April 12...Named the 2024 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year...Named First Team All-American by Baseball America, First Team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and First Team All-American by Perfect Game.
