Brian Johnson Placed On Red Sox’s Inactive List To Seek Anxiety Treatment

BOSTON — One of the Red Sox’s promising young pitching prospects is taking a much-needed step back from the game.

In their roster announcements Saturday, the Red Sox revealed they have placed left-hander Brian Johnson on their temporary inactive list while Johnson seeks treatment for anxiety. The 25-year-old will continue non-game baseball activities at the team’s facility in Fort Myers, Fla.

“Obviously we’re well aware of what he’s dealing with, and we support him,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said of Johnson on Saturday before Boston’s game against the Cleveland Indians. “He’s a talented young guy, and (we’ll) provide every available resource to him to get (him) back to (being) a productive pitcher, and a guy that we would hope to factor in as we go forward.”

Johnson has had a bumpy road with the Sox over the past year. He was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to make his major league debut on July 21, 2015, but allowed four runs in 4 1/3 innings in a Red Sox loss. He was shut down for the season shortly after that outing due to a left elbow issue.

Johnson endured a scary off-field moment in January when he was the victim of a carjacking near his home in Cocoa Beach, Fla. He was unharmed but admitted the moment was both “crazy” and “scary.”

The University of Florida product has made seven starts for Triple-A Pawtucket this season, posting a 2-3 record with a 4.64 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched. Those aren’t the best numbers, but more important for Johnson and the Red Sox is that the pitcher gets the help he needs. Farrell seems confident that’s happening for Johnson.

“Every case is going to be different. Every individual is different,” Farrell said. “Whether it’s a situation like this or others, you would hope as an organization that you’re able to provide everything that is needed for an individual. We feel like we’re able to do that in Brian’s case.”

Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images