PORTLAND — Right-handed pitcher Junichi Tazawa will start tonight for the Portland Sea Dogs against the New Britain Rock Cats at Hadlock Field in Portland. The game will be televised on NESN.

Tazawa, 25, missed the entire 2010 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He has six rehab starts with Single-A Salem this season with a 0-1 record and a 6.05 ERA. He made his professional debut with the Sea Dogs in 2009. He had a 9-5 record with a 2.57 ERA in 18 games and earned a spot on the Eastern League All-Star roster.

He progressed to the Boston Red Sox in his first pro season where he made six appearances, including four starts, posting a  2-3 record with a 7.46 ERA. Prior to his injury, Tazawa was ranked as the sixth overall prospect in the Red Sox system, according to Baseball America. He was signed by the Boston Red Sox as an international free agent on Dec. 3, 2008.