Prior to tonight's game against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Boston Red Sox reinstated left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez from the paternity leave list. To make room on the 25-man roster, the club optioned left-handed pitcher Brian Johnson to Triple-A Pawtucket following last night's game in Toronto.
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made the announcement.
Rodriguez, 24, has made two starts for the Red Sox this season, his third full campaign in the organization, going 0-1 with a 5.23 ERA (6 ER/10.1 IP) and 13 strikeouts. Acquired via trade from the Baltimore Orioles on July 31, 2014, the Venezuelan left-hander has made 43 starts over three major league seasons, posting a 13-14 record with a 4.29 ERA (114 ER/239.0 IP) and 211 strikeouts against 84 walks. In 108 minor league games (107 starts) since signing with Baltimore in 2010, Rodriguez has recorded a 3.22 ERA (205 ER/572.2 IP) with 486 strikeouts. He was honored as the 2015 Red Sox Pitcher of the Year and Red Sox Rookie of the Year by the Boston chapter of the BBWAA.
Johnson, 26, started and earned his first major league win last night, allowing four runs on seven hits in five innings with six strikeouts and three walks. He has allowed just two earned runs over two starts with Pawtucket this season, posting no record with a 1.69 ERA (10.2 IP) and striking out 15. The left-hander, whose only other major league appearance came as a starter on July 21, 2015 at Houston, spent the 2016 season with the PawSox, going 5-6 with a 4.06 ERA (35 ER/77.0 IP) and 54 strikeouts in 15 Triple-A starts. Originally selected by the Red Sox as a supplemental-round selection (31st overall) in the 2012 June Draft, Johnson is 29-22 with a 2.58 ERA (125 ER/436.0 IP) and 399 strikeouts in 87 career minor league starts, earning Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors in 2014.