The Red Sox have activated Boof Bonser from the disabled list, manager Terry Francona said on Monday. He will work out of the bullpen.
Bonser has been sidelined since injuring his groin during a spring training start. He was sent out on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket until he experienced a setback with his surgically-repaired right shoulder that caused him to miss all of 2009 while with the Minnesota Twins.
Bonser has completed his second rehab assignment, which went the allotted maximum of 30 days. Bonser made eight starts and one relief appearance for the PawSox, posting a 0-2 record and 6.34 ERA in 32 2/3 innings. He whiffed 25 while walking 14, pitching in the low 90s while starting.
Coming out of the bullpen Saturday night for the Triple-A squad, Bonser dialed up his fastball to 95 mph, much to the pleasure of Francona. Now, Bonser joins the bullpen, replacing closer Jonathan Papelbon, who was placed on the bereavement list for an undisclosed reason.
Francona expects Papelbon to spend three days on the list before returning. At that point, the Red Sox will have to make another roster move to put the closer back on the active roster. Players must miss a minimum of three games and a maximum of seven to be placed on the list, which generally deals with a serious illness or death in the family.
