Even after a second full season in the minor leagues and playing in the Arizona Fall League, the opportunity to represent his country was too good for Pittsburgh. Pirates the prospect Termarr Johnson to let it pass.

Johnson is expected to play for Team USA in the third World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 tournament presented by RAXUS. For Johnson, another chance to play for Team USA after spending time representing them twice before was a no-brainer after getting the opportunity.

“A little before the end of the season, I received a call from the people at USA Baseball,” Johnson said on the MLB Pipeline podcast. “They asked me do you want to be able to play for your country? I said, ‘Hell yeah, I want to play for my country.’ (It’s) one of the greatest things to do in this sport. So to have this opportunity, I took it immediately.”

Johnson is the Pirates‘ No. 3 among ranked prospects and No. 75 overall baseball by MLB Pipeline and briefly Double-A Altoona after spending most of the 2024 season playing for High-A Greensboro. The midfield prospect had 15 homers and 54 RBIs and slashed .237/.366/.386 last season. In his 11 games in the Arizona Fall League, Johnson slashed .250/.444/.475 and homered and drove in four runs.

Of his 10 hits, five were extra-base hits and his 14 walks still lead the Scottsdale Scorpions despite leaving for Team USA last week.

Johnson and Team USA will begin the group stage of the Premier12 tournament on Sunday against Puerto Rico at 6 p.m. ET at Santa Teresita Stadium in Tepic, Mexico. The top two teams from the two six-team groups advance to the second round in Tokyo, Japan, which begins on November 21.

“I’m grateful (and) excited to win the gold medal for all of us, because it’s for everyone,” Johnson said.

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