Prior to tonight's game against the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox catcher Ryan Hanigan 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, catcher Christian Vazquez was optioned to Pawtucket following yesterday's game against the Rangers.
 
President of Baseball Operations David Dombrowski made the announcement.
 
Hanigan, 35, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a neck strain on June 5. He appeared in eight games during a rehab assignment with Pawtucket, going 5-for-25 (.200) with a double and three walks while making six starts at catcher and two as a designated hitter. Acquired from the San Diego Padres on December 19, 2014, the veteran backstop has hit .186 (13-for-70) with three doubles and 10 RBI in 22 games for the Red Sox this season, with Boston going 14-6 in his 20 starts. A native of Andover, MA, Hanigan has appeared in 634 major league games over 10 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds (2007-13), Tampa Bay Rays (2014), and Red Sox, combining to hit .252 (460-for-1,823) with a .348 on-base percentage. Originally signed by Cincinnati as a non-drafted free agent in 2002, he has thrown out 111 of 336 attempted base stealers (33%) while posting a 3.70 catcher's ERA.
 
Vazquez, 25, began the 2016 season on the disabled list recovering from Tommy John surgery performed on April 2, 2015, having missed the entire 2015 campaign following the procedure. In 51 games with the Red Sox this season, he has thrown out 36% of attempted base stealers (8 of 22) and hit .226 (37-for-164) with eight doubles, one triple, one home run, 12 RBI, and 21 runs scored. The native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico made his major league debut in 2014, when he hit .240 (42-for-175) in 55 games and threw out 52% of attempted base stealers (15 of 29), the best mark in club history. Signed by the Red Sox as a ninth-round selection in the 2008 June Draft, Vazquez has appeared in 505 minor league games in his career, batting .267 (477-for-1,789) with 38 home runs and a .347 on-base percentage while throwing out 195 of 520 attempted base stealers (38%).