Red Sox place left-handed pitcher Brian Johnson on disabled list
By Rick McNair
The Boston Red Sox have now added lefty Brian Johnson to their ever expanding DL list. Johnson has a shoulder impingement and has been replaced by Austin Maddox.
The Boston Red Sox announced what I do believe just about everyone suspected and that is 26-year-old left-hander Brian Johnson has been placed on the ten-day disabled list with a sore shoulder classified as a shoulder impingement. There is no time table yet issued regarding Johnson’s recovery.
Johnson lasted only 2 2/3 innings in his last start after reporting some discomfort in warm up activities. Johnson was expected to take an active role in the rotation with the loss of Eduardo Rodriguez. This season the former number one draft pick is 2-0 with a 4.29 ERA in 21 innings.
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Johnson’s note of fame this season was the only complete game pitched by a Boston starter with a brilliant 6-0 whitewash of Seattle at Fenway Park. Johnson struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter.
The Red Sox transferred 26-year-old right-hander Austin Maddox to the 40-man roster. This required the procedural move by placing left-handed pitcher Roenis Elias to the 60-day DL.
Maddox has split his season between Double-A with Portland Triple-A at Pawtucket. He has tossed 27 innings of relief, posting a 1-1 record and 1.33 ERA in his split team season.
Both Johnson and Maddox were teammates at the University of Florida and drafted by Boston in 2012. Johnson – as mentioned – was a first-round pick and Maddox a third-round selection. Currently, Maddox is not ranked in the top 30 Red Sox prospects on MLB Prospect Watch but does have a 23rd ranking on Sox Prospects.
Scouts list Maddox as having a fastball that occasionally hits 94 MPH. For secondary pitches, Maddox relies on a slider and change-up. The negative is average to below average command. Maddox will assume the role of mop-up duty in the bullpen.
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There is no report about who will take Johnson’s place, but the 3 1/3 innings of shutout ball in relief of Johnson should earn Hector Velazquez the start in his place.