Johnson pitched in game-conditions Wednesday for the first time since Aug. 2015, WEEI.com reports. He walked two batters, allowed two hits and two runs and was unable to finish off two scheduled innings, but was pleased to be able to come off a mound again. "I think I came off the mound and hugged our Triple-A pitching coach Bob Kipper," the left-hander said. "I said, 'I felt like myself again.' He just said, 'it looked like night and day, the last time I saw you to this time.' It looked like myself."
Johnson was shut down last August after attempting to pitch through nerve irritation in his left elbow, an ailment he kept to himself until it became bad enough. The irritation created numbness in his fingers, which predictably led to a lack of command. More than most pitchers on the roster, Johnson needs to precisely command his low-90s fastball to get the most out of his stuff. This spring is all about his health and proving to the Red Sox he's the same pitcher they saw at the start of the 2015 season, when he had a 2.73 ERA and allowed opponents to hit .217 at Triple-A Pawtucket.