Tuesday comes with mixed emotions for the Red Sox as one pitching prospect, Henry Owens, readies for his major league debut, and another, Brian Johnson, goes on the DL.
Johnson was removed from Sunday's PawSox game after four innings due to elbow tightness.
According to the Boston Globe, Johnson ran into some trouble during the fourth inning and was paid a visit by PawSox pitching coach Bob Kipper. Johnson was seen flexing his pitching arm during the visit. He remained in the game to finish the inning, but did not return.
The PawSox will reportedly place on the minor league DL.
Johnson made his major league debut on July 21 in Houston, when he went 4 1/3 inning,s allowing four runs on three hits and four walks.
He was optioned back to the PawSox where he made one start prior to his elbow injury on July 28, lasting 6 1/3 shutout innings and allowing four hits and three walks.
The news of Johnson hitting the DL due to elbow tightness is obviously troublesome. Anytime you hear "elbow" you think of one thing: Tommy John surgery. That isn't to say that's the case here, but with so many young pitchers getting it these days, it's easy for that to creep into the back of your mind.
Obviously, it's extremely early and we don't have enough information to know how serious or not serious the injury is, but Clay Buchholz hit the DL with elbow tightness on July 11, and was eventually moved to the 60-day DL after receiving a PRP injection.
Johnson is looked at as a very possible option to begin the 2016 season in the Red Sox rotation, so they will undoubtedly be very careful in treating this injury going forward.
The Boston Globe's Alex Speier was first to report the news.