Ryan Johnson's unconventional path from the bullpen to the Angels' rotation

Ryan Johnson did not have the childhood that most did. He was homeschooled all the way through high school and played baseball for Christian Athletes Storm, where he was a four-year letterman. 

He was one of the top baseball players in Texas, being ranked as the fourth-best right-handed pitcher in the state. That would lead him to play college baseball for Dallas Baptist, where he spent time in the bullpen and the starting rotation. 

He would go on to become the school's Saturday starter and set a record for most strikeouts in a single season with 116 batters fanned. 

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Ryan Johnson's unconventional path from the bullpen to the Angels' rotation

In 2024, the Los Angeles Angels would select Ryan Johnson with the 74th overall pick. Instead of spending some time in the minors, he made the club's Opening Day roster.

He became just the second Angels player to go straight to the big leagues after being drafted. Jim Abbott was the first. 

Soon after, he would be sent down to High-A to develop him better as a starter. Now, he's back with the big league club, and Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter is perplexed by his jump from MLB to High-A back to MLB.

"A second-round pick in 2024, Johnson opened last season in the Angels' bullpen before he was optioned to High-A to move onto a more traditional development as a starter. He logged a 1.88 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 65 strikeouts in 57.1 innings over 12 starts. Now, he's back in the big leagues after winning the No. 5 starter job. Suffice to say, draft pick to MLB to High-A to MLB is not generally how players move through an organization."

He made his first start of the season on Monday against the Chicago Cubs, but it did not go well. He lasted just 3.1 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits, and he will need to bounce back if he wants to keep that No. 5 starting role.

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