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Sox release Johnson, a first-round pick

Print | Comments () Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff May 17, 2011 12:13 PM

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By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

The Red Sox have been one of the better teams in baseball at using the amateur draft to build a talent base since Theo Epstein became general manager.

But the capricious nature of that enterprise was revealed again today with the news that the organization has released lefthander Kris Johnson.

Johnson was the 40th overall pick in 2006, a supplemental first rounder out of Wichita State. He received a bonus of $850,000 and just never pitched well. He was 28-49 with a career ERA of 5.10 in the minors and had a 12.63 ERA in 20.2 innings for Pawtucket this season.

The Red Sox released their first pick in the 2006 draft, outfielder Jason Place, earlier this season.

But Daniel Bard was a product of that draft, as were Justin Masterson, Ryan Kalish, Josh Reddick and Lars Anderson.