Junichi Tazawa -- sidelined since April of 2010 with Tommy John surgery -- will make his his first rehabilitation start on Friday with Hi-A Salem.
The Sox will have 30 days to activate Tazawa, and will almost certainly option him after doing so. They will then have to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for the right-hander upon the completion of his rehab assignment.
Tazawa was signed to a three-year contract in December 2008 and pitched in six games for the Sox in 2009, posting a 2-3 record with an ERA of 7.46. Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery to reconstruct the elbow of Tazawa, who compiled a 2.55 ERA in 109.1 innings pitched for Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket in 2009.
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