The Boston Red Sox today returned left-handed pitcher Brian Johnson from his injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket, reinstated him from the 10-day disabled list, and optioned him to Pawtucket.
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made the announcement.
Johnson, 26, made two rehab starts after being placed on the disabled list with a left shoulder impingement on June 15. He appeared once each for High-A Lowell and Triple-A Pawtucket, allowing four earned runs over 6.1 innings pitched. In four major-league starts this season-all Red Sox wins-he has gone 2-0 with a 4.29 ERA (10 ER/21.0 IP), 17 strikeouts, and five walks. He threw a complete-game shutout on May 27 against the Mariners, becoming the first Red Sox pitcher since Pedro Martinez to record a nine-inning shutout in his Fenway Park debut. Johnson has made a total of 10 minor league starts in 2017, going 2-1 with a 3.08 ERA (18 ER/52.2 IP) and 48 strikeouts. Selected by the Red Sox as a supplemental-round selection (31st overall) in the 2012 June Draft, he is 31-23 with a 2.65 ERA (141 ER/478.0 IP) and 432 strikeouts in 95 career minor league starts, earning Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors in 2014.