Reed Johnson will start in right field for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rockies.

Johnson is filling in for Jason Heyward, who underwent an appendectomy late Monday night. The 36-year-old is starting against the left-hander Jeff Francis and figures to split playing time in right field with Jordan Schafer. The Braves could also give Evan Gattis a look in the days to come.

Braves re-signed OF Reed Johnson to a one-year contract with a club option for 2014.

Johnson batted .290/.337/.398 in 288 plate appearances this past season between the Cubs and Braves. He'll serve as a utility outfielder for Atlanta next summer.

Braves general manager Frank Wren confirmed Tuesday that he has interest in bringing back Reed Johnson as a bench player.

"I think he'd like to come back, but I think he's also at a point where he wants to just explore and see what opportunities are out there," said Wren. "We've expressed an interest in bringing him back. He's expressed an interest in coming back. But we're just not there yet." Johnson, who turns 36 on Saturday, batted .270 (27-for-100) in 43 games after coming over from the Cubs this past July. The Braves would prefer to bring him back over Matt Diaz, who will likely have to look for opportunities elsewhere.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that free agent outfielder Reed Johnson is drawing interest from the Braves and "a number of other clubs."

Johnson batted .270 (27-for-100) in 43 games after coming over from the Cubs in July and the Braves apparently liked what they saw. The soon-to-be 36-year-old owns an .828 career OPS against southpaws and is capable of playing all three outfield positions, so he could be a useful bench player for pretty much anyone.

Braves acquired OF Reed Johnson and LHP Paul Maholm from the Cubs for RHPs Jaye Chapman and Arodys Vizcaino.

Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer must be rejoicing that the playing time they gave Johnson came to fruition in the form of prospects. The 35-year-old hit .302/.355/.444 with three home runs and 16 RBI in 76 games played this season. He's capable of playing all three outfield positions and will offer a right-handed bat off the bench for Atlanta. Johnson will have value in deeper NL-only leagues in Atlanta.

Reed Johnson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Astros.

Johnson's first inning bomb off of Wandy Rodriguez ended up being the Cubs' only run. One of the league's best role players, Johnson is hitting .246/.319/.446 through his first 71 plate appearances this season.

Reed Johnson will start in right field and bat leadoff in Saturday's game against the Nationals.

David DeJesus will get the day off. Johnson batted .305 against left-handed pitching in 117 plate appearances last season, but still managed to evince a reverse platoon split. He remains one of the top bench players in the majors.

Cubs re-signed OF Reed Johnson to a one-year, $1.15 million contract.

The contract terms were reported by Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. Johnson, who signed a minor league deal with the Cubs last winter, batted .309/.348/.467 with five home runs, 28 RBI and an .816 OPS over 266 plate appearances in 2011. He'll serve as an extra outfielder this year.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Cubs have re-signed outfielder Reed Johnson to a one-year deal, pending a physical.

Terms aren't yet available. Johnson, who rejoined the Cubs on a minor league contract last winter, batted .309/.348/.467 with five home runs, 28 RBI and an .816 OPS over 266 plate appearances in 2011. The 35-year-old is a poor bet for a repeat, but will function as a reserve outfielder and right-handed bat off the bench next season.

Reed Johnson is a candidate to be traded this month.

Batting .349/.389/.566 while making less than $1 million this season, there is no way Johnson would clear waivers, but the Cubs would more than likely be able to work out a deal with whomever puts in the winning claim. Johnson, who turns 35 in December, has said he would like to return to the Cubs in 2012.

Reed Johnson went 4-for-4 with a solo home run in Chicago's win over the Nationals on Wednesday.

Johnson's fifth home run of the year came off of Ross Detwiler in the fifth inning. Now batting .340 through his first 162 at-bats, Johnson has been one of the best bench players in the major leagues this season.

Reed Johnson went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Chicago's loss to the Brewers on Wednesday.

He tagged Chris Narveson for a three-run bomb in the fifth. Johnson is now 3-for-8 with a home run, double and three RBI since coming off of the disabled list on Tuesday. He's worth an own in NL-only leagues.

Cubs activated OF Reed Johnson from the 15-day disabled list.

Johnson has been sidelined since late May with back issues and over the weekend had to depart a rehab game after being plunked in the head with a pitch. He's good to go now, though, and is starting in center field Tuesday vs. Yovani Gallardo.

Reed Johnson (back, head) will be examined Monday before the Cubs determine whether he's ready to be activated from the disabled list.

Johnson's back no longer appears to be an issue, but he had to go to the hospital after getting drilled in the head by a pitch during his rehab game Saturday. The Cubs had hoped to get both he and Jeff Baker (groin) back Monday, but it might now only be Baker.

Reed Johnson (back) had to leave his rehab game for Triple-A Iowa Saturday after getting beaned in the helmet by a pitch.

Johnson was able to walk off the field under his own power but was subsequently taken to a Des Moines hospital to be examined. "He got a fastball up and in, and the helmet protected him," Iowa manager Bill Dancy said. "He was cut a little bit but he was talking when he got up." Johnson was slated to be activated from the disabled list Monday, but there's a good chance his arrival might be delayed now.

Reed Johnson (back) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Iowa.

Johnson has been sidelined since the end of May with back spasms. The Cubs are hoping he can return as soon as next week in Philadelphia.

Cubs placed OF Reed Johnson on the 15-day disabled list with back spasms.

Johnson has a history of back woes, so the Cubs want to play it safe and give him the time he needs. Brad Snyder was brought up from Triple-A Iowa to replace him on the roster.

Reed Johnson is unavailable to play Saturday due to back issues.

Back problems are nothing new for Johnson, as they cost him a good chunk of last season and have plagued him often in his career. Cubs manager Mike Quade admits to being "concerned" about the veteran outfielder. They won't place him on the DL yet, but it sounds like something that will keep him out at least for a few days.

Reed Johnson hit a walkoff homer in the bottom of the 11th as the Cubs topped the Padres 2-1 in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader.

The blast of Luke Gregerson was Johnson's first in his return to the Cubs organization. It looked like the Cubs would wrap this one up in nine, but Carlos Marmol blew his second save, costing Matt Garza a win. Johnson was in the game after Alfonso Soriano was removed earlier as part of a double-switch.

Reed Johnson has won the final spot on the Cubs' Opening Day roster.

Not a surprise. Johnson is useful against left-handed pitching, posting a career .312/.373/.463 mark against southpaws. He'll be used as a pinch-hitter and backup at all three outfield positions.