BRADENTON, Fla. -- Brian Johnson is the sixth man in the Red Sox starting rotation, but there is nothing minimal about that for manager Alex Cora.

There will be times this season when a starter has a nagging injury or is overworked, or the team has a doubleheader. And rather than call down to Triple-A Pawtucket, the Red Sox can just summon Johnson from the bullpen.

This is why he is being stretched out in Spring Training, and that process started Monday, with the dependable lefty logging two innings against the Pirates and giving up a run in Boston’s 4-3 loss.

“Him and [Hector Velázquez] last year, they were like our MVPs,” Cora said. “Without those two, we don’t win the World Series. What they did since the fourth game of the season all the way to the end -- starting games, high-leverage situations, up 10, down six, whatever -- they were amazing. They were available. They never complained. Those two guys, they were our saviors throughout the season.”

Velazquez still has options, so there’s a chance he will spend some of his time in Pawtucket’s rotation. Johnson will be with the Red Sox at all times, roving back and forth and enjoying the variety.

Though it isn’t the most glamorous role, Johnson said that his teammates and his manager make him feel appreciated.

“Especially, you know, when you have a guy who’s hurting a little bit, like [Chris Sale] going down for a little bit last year,” Johnson said, “or if someone in the bullpen is hanging a little bit, so you have to give them a couple of innings. It goes a long way, because we were such a close team that guys after the game would give you a hug and say, 'Thanks for picking me up out there.' It felt great from a teammate standpoint.”

In his dual role last year, Johnson went 4-5 with a 4.17 ERA. Of his 38 appearances, 13 were starts. The 28-year-old figures to perform better this season now that he goes in knowing what it takes to succeed as a reliever.

“I think last year was a big step in learning how to prep for the bullpen,” Johnson said. “I had never done that, and [I] was trying to learn midseason at the big league level, so that was kind of tough for me. I didn’t know how much to throw. I had never done that, so I was trying to learn, and I remember one time going into Alex’s office and saying, 'Look, I’m figuring this out, but I will figure this out.'"

Playing plans

While MVP Mookie Betts will play his first game of Spring Training on Wednesday at home against the Orioles, Cora said that he will wait until the weekend to get star slugger J.D. Martinez into the lineup.

Last year, the Red Sox didn’t sign Martinez until Feb. 26, and he played his first Grapefruit League game on March 7. He will probably play both games on Florida's east coast next Monday and Tuesday, when the Red Sox visit the Mets and Nationals.

Slow going for Wright

Knuckleballer Steven Wright, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in November, has been limited to playing catch so far this spring.

“[Tim Wakefield] is showing up today. Seems like whenever Wake is around, they talk the same lingo," Cora said. "Hopefully, [there will be more progress]."

Does Wright still have time to be ready for the start of the season?

“At this point, nobody said he cannot,” said Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. “One thing is that when you’re pitching out of the bullpen, you don’t have to lengthen out as much so you’re in a different type of situation. And that’s how we’re going to use him.”

Up next

The Red Sox will get a good look at some of their best prospects when they travel to Dunedin on Tuesday to face the Blue Jays. Sluggers Michael Chavis (No. 1 prospect for the Red Sox per MLB Pipeline) and Bobby Dalbec (No. 3) will both play. Lefty Darwinzon Hernandez, Boston’s top-ranked pitching prospect, will see action out of the bullpen. Righty Mike Shawaryn gets the start. The only regulars expected on the trip are Sandy Leon and Blake Swihart. Leon will catch with Swihart serving as the DH. First pitch is scheduled for 1:07 p.m. ET.