Blue Jays Activate Johnson, Davis; Place Ortiz on DL

April 11, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Josh Johnson (55) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY SportsIn one of the worst kept secrets in the baseball world, the Toronto Blue Jays activated right-hander Josh Johnson from the disabled list, according to a release from the team on Tuesday. However, in a bit of a surprise that the team activated outfielder Rajai Davis as well.

The 29-year-old Johnson is scheduled to start Tuesday night in the first game of a two-game set in San Francisco against the Giants. He had been on the disabled list since May 2nd, retroactive to April 29, with right triceps inflammation.

In three rehab starts split between Dunedin and Buffalo, Johnson had mixed results. He struck out 11 over 11.2 innings, but also surrendered 12 hits and 7 earned runs in the process. When you consider that Johnson held a 0-1 record and a 6.86 ERA through his four starts with the Blue Jays prior to hitting the DL, those results may not be very encouraging.

However, need dictates his return to the rotation immediately, with both Brandon Morrow and Ramon Ortiz being added to the disabled list in the last week.

Speaking of Ortiz, the right-hander was placed on the 15-day disabled list today with soreness in his pitching (right) elbow. The Blue Jay are monitoring his diagnosis, but based on the way he reacted on Sunday night, all signs point to Ortiz being done for the season.

The addition of Ortiz to the DL opens up a roster spot, of which the Blue Jays will use to activate Rajai Davis. The speedy outfielder has been on the disabled list with a strained oblique muscle since May 10th.

His activation comes as a bit of a surprise though, as Davis has appeared in just two games and seeing just 9 plate appearances with Dunedin during his rehab assignment, notching two hits and scoring a run.

Davis will return to the Blue Jays holding a .284 average with a .721 OPS and 8 stolen bases in 2013.

It is also somewhat surprising and having both Davis and Anthony Gose on the roster is somewhat redundant. However, maybe the team will opt to option Gose later this week when they return to American League play with a series in Toronto against Texas.

Regardless, it is good to see players coming off the disabled list instead of going the other way.