BOSTON — The last remaining member of the 2012 Red Sox draft class is no longer with the organization.
Brian Johnson asked for and was granted his release on Monday. The left-hander was a non-roster invitee to both spring training and Summer Camp.
Johnson was outrighted off the 40-man in November, less than a month after chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom was hired away from the Rays. The 29-year-old Johnson had clearly fallen down the pecking order among [...]
BOSTON — The last remaining member of the 2012 Red Sox draft class is no longer with the organization.
Brian Johnson asked for and was granted his release on Monday. The left-hander was a non-roster invitee to both spring training and Summer Camp.
Johnson was outrighted off the 40-man in November, less than a month after chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom was hired away from the Rays. The 29-year-old Johnson had clearly fallen down the pecking order among Boston’s potential starting pitchers, surpassed by the likes of new acquisitions Martin Perez, Zack Godley and Matt Hall.
"He just felt like he wanted an opportunity," Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said. "Sometimes you need to go other places to have a better opportunity. He asked for his release.
"Chaim did not want to keep him from an opportunity where he could get back to the big leagues. We would like to have him here for depth, but that’s the decision Brian wanted."
Johnson made 65 appearances with the Red Sox, including 26 starts. He was 7-9 with a 4.64 earned-run average and struck out 142 in 171 innings. Johnson made 38 appearances and worked 99 1/3 innings as a bullpen long man while Boston bulldozed its way to a 2018 World Series crown.
Johnson debuted in 2015 and was on each of the last two Opening Day rosters. His first Fenway Park start in 2017 was a five-hit shutout of the Mariners, one of two fired by rookies that season. Johnson was among the contenders for a rotation spot when the Red Sox reconvened in July, but he ultimately was sent to McCoy Stadium as part of the 60-man player pool.
"It’s hard when a guy is out of options," Roenicke said. "It’s hard when a guy isn’t on the roster. But certainly, when guys are doing great and we feel like they’re doing better than everybody else, we would make that move.
"I don’t want to say why he’s down on the depth chart. It’s just an easier move when the pieces you have can be switched around in your organization."
Johnson was the 31st overall pick out of Florida eight years ago. He was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman Team in 2010 and earned the John Olerud Award as college baseball’s best two-way player as a junior. Johnson passed up his senior season with the Gators by signing for full slot value with Boston.
Johnson earned the organization’s Lou Gorman Award in 2017, which is given annually to the Red Sox player who demonstrates dedication and perseverance while working his way onto the major-league roster. Johnson suffered a facial fracture when he was hit by a line drive during a 2012 start and missed part of the 2016 season while seeking treatment for anxiety. He was honored with the Unsung Hero Award by the Boston Baseball Writers for his contributions to the 2018 title winners.
Johnson was one of 12 future big-leaguers drafted by Boston in 2012. Nine of them eventually signed with the club while Carson Fulmer (Vanderbilt), Alex Bregman (LSU) and Hunter Wood (Howard College) honored their respective college commitments. Deven Marrero, Johnson, Pat Light, Jamie Callahan, Austin Maddox and Ty Buttrey were the first six Red Sox picks that June.
Johnson threw five scoreless innings in his last simulated game at Pawtucket, striking out six. He was one of multiple pitchers being stretched out elsewhere alongside Kyle Hart, Tanner Houck and Mike Shawaryn. Hart is on the 40-man roster and could be in contention to start Thursday after retiring 34 of the last 38 men he’s faced in simulated game action.
bkoch@providencejournal.com
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