Prior to today's game against the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox right-handed pitcher Joe Kelly was returned from his injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket and activated from the 15-day disabled list. To make room on the 25-man roster, right-handed pitcher Noe Ramirez was optioned to Pawtucket following last night's game against the Indians. Kelly will start today's game against Cleveland at Fenway Park beginning at 4:05 p.m.
President of Baseball Operations David Dombrowski made the announcement.
Kelly, who was placed on the disabled list with a right shoulder impingement on April 20, made three rehab starts with the PawSox, going 1-0 with a 1.26 ERA (2 ER/14.1 IP) and .222 opponent batting average. The Red Sox are 10-2 in Kelly's last 12 major league starts since August 1, 2015, with the 27-year-old going 9-0 with a 3.92 ERA (26 ER/59.2 IP) in that time. Originally selected by St. Louis in the third round of the 2009 June Draft, the right-hander is 32-22 with a 3.92 ERA (205 ER/470.1 IP) in 106 big league appearances (76 starts) with the Cardinals (2012-14) and Red Sox (2014-16). Acquired by Boston from St. Louis on July 31, 2014, Kelly has gone 15-8 with a 4.80 ERA (109 ER/204.1 IP) in 38 games-all starts-with the Red Sox.
Ramirez, 26, began his fourth major league stint of the season yesterday but did not appear in last night's game against the Indians. After making his first career Opening Day roster with Boston in 2016, the right-hander has appeared in nine games for the club, posting no record with a 5.79 ERA (6 ER/9.1 IP) and 10 strikeouts. For his major league career, Ramirez, a fourth-round selection by the Red Sox in the 2011 June Draft, has gone 0-1 with a 4.84 ERA (12 ER/22.1 IP) and 23 strikeouts in 26 appearances, all with Boston (2015-16). He has also made 129 appearances (17 starts) in parts of five minor league seasons (2012-16), going 11-14 with 28 saves and a 2.90 ERA (90 ER/279.1 IP).
Additionally, at Triple-A Pawtucket, left-handed pitcher Brian Johnson was placed on the club's temporary inactive list today. He is leaving the team to seek treatment for anxiety while continuing non-game baseball activities in Fort Myers, FL. Out of respect to the player and his personal privacy, the club will refrain from commenting on the matter until the appropriate time.