Chicago White Sox send Johnson to Triple-A

Erik Johnson proved last September he can be an effective major-league starting pitcher.

Last season, the right-hander came up from Class AAA Charlotte and was 3-1 with a 3.34 ERA in 6 starts during the final month.

In 2013, Johnson was also promoted to the White Sox in September and he was 3-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 5 starts.

If Johnson can figure out how to be effective over the rest of the baseball calendar, the White Sox will have a reliable starter.

Then again, that time may never come.

After going 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA in 2 Cactus League starts this spring, Johnson was optioned to Charlotte on Monday.

Another right-handed starter, Tyler Danish, and infielder Steve Lombardozzi were reassigned to minor-league camp. The White Sox are down to 40 players in major-league camp.

Johnson's somewhat early demotion is the biggest move the Sox have made in camp this spring, and it appears to open the door for Mat Latos, who signed a one-year, $3 million contract on Feb. 9.

Latos reported to camp with some lingering issues in his surgically repaired left knee, and he is scheduled to make his first Cactus League start Tuesday against the Giants.

"Once we had (Latos) signed, it looked like it would be this way unless there was an injury," White Sox manager Robin Ventura told reporters. "We needed to get Erik stretched out. All these guys who are sent to the minor leagues still must get their work in and get ready for their minor-league seasons. They must be ready to help us if we need them. Right now, we need Erik to get ready in case something happens. We don't have enough innings for him to pitch here now."

Could Carson Fulmer help the Sox this season?

Drafted No. 8 overall last June, Fulmer pitched 3⅓ scoreless innings against the A's Sunday and had 4 strikeouts. In 8⅔ Cactus League innings, Fulmer has allowed 4 earned runs on 8 hits and 5 walks.

"Absolutely. Why not?" pitching coach Don Cooper told reporters when asked about Fulmer joining the White Sox at some point this year. "I believe at this point, right now, compared to last year, he's slightly ahead of where (Carlos) Rodon was."