Seth Johnson’s first appearance with the Athletics did little to change the perception Philadelphia Phillies fans had of the right-hander, as his new chapter in Oakland began with a costly mistake.
Johnson was traded from Philadelphia to the Athletics just before the 2026 MLB trade deadline, with the Phillies acquiring outfielder Colby Thomas in return. Philadelphia made the move to address its need for additional outfield depth, while Johnson was given a fresh opportunity to establish himself with another organization.
Unfortunately for the right-hander, his Athletics debut was hardly the dream start he would have wanted.
Johnson took the mound Thursday in Cincinnati and was handed a difficult assignment in a tight game. He eventually surrendered a go-ahead home run to JJ Bleday in the seventh inning, contributing to Oakland’s 6-5 loss.
The home run was especially frustrating because of how it happened.
Bleday jumped on the very first pitch he saw from Johnson, a four-seam fastball that stayed over the heart of the plate. He launched the pitch 406 feet into right-center field, immediately putting the Athletics in a difficult position late in the game.
The sequence also highlighted one of the biggest concerns surrounding Johnson’s pitching profile.
He relies heavily on his fastball, throwing it nearly half the time. Opposing hitters had entered the game batting .273 against that pitch during the season, making it an area that hitters can potentially attack if Johnson isn’t locating it effectively.
The warning signs continued shortly afterward. Eugenio Suárez doubled off another Johnson fastball just two batters after Bleday’s homer, giving Oakland another reminder that leaving the pitch in hittable locations could prove costly.
Still, the outing wasn’t entirely negative.
Johnson completed two innings and surrendered one run on three hits. More importantly, he struck out four hitters without issuing a walk. That ability to generate swings and misses remains one of the most intriguing parts of his game.
Entering Thursday’s contest, Johnson had posted an impressive 11.0 strikeouts per nine innings during the season. However, his command had been a major concern, with his walk rate sitting at an alarming 7.7 per nine innings.
That combination tells the story of Johnson’s potential: there is plenty of strikeout ability, but the lack of consistent command can quickly put him in trouble.
Phillies fans are certainly familiar with that inconsistency. Johnson was optioned four times by Philadelphia, and his uneven performances ultimately contributed to the organization deciding to move on at the deadline.
That made his first appearance with Oakland something of an “I told you so” moment for some Philadelphia supporters.
Rather than getting an immediate look at Thomas, Phillies fans watched from afar as their former reliever allowed a crucial late home run in his new uniform.
Of course, one outing does not define a pitcher.
Johnson still has time to establish himself with the Athletics, and there is a clear path toward becoming a useful bullpen piece if he can maintain his strikeout numbers while dramatically improving his control.
For now, though, his Oakland debut was a frustrating reminder of both sides of his game: the strikeouts can be impressive, but one poorly located fastball can quickly change everything.
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