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The Athletics' 2026 season was marred by a relentless wave of injuries, and that misfortune has now extended into the offseason. One of the club's few deadline moves last summer was a buzzer-beating trade that sent outfielder Colby Thomas to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for right-hander Seth Johnson.
Johnson, a former first-round pick, received extended big-league opportunities over the final two months because of injuries to other pitchers. With key arms like Luis Severino and JT Ginn sidelined, hurlers such as Jack Perkins were forced into the rotation. Now, Johnson himself has become the latest Athletic to require surgery.
Knee Procedure and Recovery Timeline
Since the A's are not participating in October baseball, players have turned their attention to offseason conditioning. Johnson underwent surgery on his left knee on Monday, October 5, at Stanford Orthopaedic Hospital. The right-hander will now begin a rehab program aimed at building strength over the next few months.
The upcoming MLB lockout could delay the start of Spring Training or even the regular season, but even without such a delay, Johnson is expected to be ready for Spring Training. With no immediate pressure to return, he can progress at his own pace and still be prepared whenever A's baseball resumes after the lockout.
Breakout Potential for 2027
Although Johnson has not been highly productive since joining the A's, he has flashed the potential to be a reliable arm. His fastball averages around 97 mph, placing him in the 90th percentile among all pitchers. However, his extension is only 6.4 feet, which ranks in the 44th percentile this season. If he can improve his extension, the ball will reach hitters quicker and could induce weaker contact.
Opponents hit grounders just 37.5% of the time against him in 2026, and his hard-hit rate allowed was a rough 43.8%. Despite a 5.88 ERA, there is reason for optimism. With minor adjustments, Johnson could develop into a significant piece of the Athletics' bullpen.
Dylan Quinn grew up playing baseball and also enjoyed watching and writing about his favorite team, the A's. Being a diehard A's fan from New Jersey is certainly not common, but he loves the team and all of the current and former players so much. Quinn currently attends school at Penn State Scranton where he plays baseball. Follow dylanq_2.