After an offseason spent wondering where he fits into the roster, the Boston Red Sox placed 2024 designated hitter Masataka Yoshida on the injured list to start the year.
Yoshida underwent surgery to repair his labrum in October, and while he can swing a bat, his throwing progression is still behind. Yoshida played in spring training games with the Red Sox as a DH as Rafael Devers recovered from shoulder injuries of his own, and he batted .286/.286/.400 with a homer over 11 games.
Nearly a month after his final spring training game, Yoshida remains in Fort Myers working toward a rehab assignment. Reporters asked Red Sox manager Alex Cora if the outfielder is approaching a rehab stint and he said only “not yet.”
Christopher Smith of MassLive reported that Yoshida will not return until he’s able to make throws from the outfield, where the Red Sox intend to play him this season, despite previous concerns about the quality of his defense. How they’ll fit him in the pastures with Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, Rob Refsnyder, and eventually Roman Anthony battling for a spot remains a mystery.
Masataka Yoshida still not near rehab assignment, still unclear where he fits in Red Sox lineup
Asked if Masataka Yoshida is near a rehab assignment, Alex Cora said, “Not yet.” https://t.co/eR5Cvuqiuo
— Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) April 15, 2025
Red Sox fans have wondered about Yoshida’s recovery progress during Boston’s rough offensive streak. Yoshida is known for his ability to get on base, which the Sox could desperately use, as they lead MLB in strikeouts again with 190 in 19 games.
Yoshida batted .280/.349/.415 with 52 strikeouts and 27 walks over 108 games in 2024. The Red Sox signed Yoshida before the 2023 season for his incredibly consistent bat (.327/.421/.539) over his seven seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, and while his production hasn’t lived up to expectations, he’s still been a critical bat in their lineup. Yoshida batted .333/.411/.487 in July during Boston’s 2024 hot streak, and Cora said at the time that the Red Sox are “elite” when he’s locked in.
Yoshida is still far from returning to the Red Sox roster, but hopefully, the team can find a place for him when he’s ready. Boston could use a bat as consistent as his as it struggles to bring down its strikeout numbers and score more runs.
