Orioles' Johnson felled by shoulder injury

Pitcher Jim Johnson has been shut down by the Baltimore Orioles for at least a week because of discomfort in his right shoulder.

The decision comes after Johnson admitted feeling pain during his last few pitches in Wednesday's outing and while lifting weights after the game.

While the Associated Press reports the move is to determine the cause of the pain, MLB.com says an MRI showed the right-handed reliever is suffering from an impingement.

While the move is considered precautionary, there is reason to worry, as Johnson was on the DL for the final weeks of last season after experiencing similar pain.

"I was told not to be concerned about it and that it would be a few days of non-throwing," said manager Dave Trembley. "I talked to the doctor today and we seem to think it's just a reoccurrence on a lesser scale of what he went through in September."

Trembley expects the reliever to be ready for opening day.

As the chief right-handed set-up man for closer George Sherrill, Johnson went 2-4 with a 2.23 ERA in 54 games and did not allow a home run in 2008. Johnson joins the ranks of injured Oriole pitchers, including Brad Hennessey, John Parrish and Rich Hill.