{"id":66225,"date":"2025-07-05T07:32:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-05T07:32:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=66225"},"modified":"2025-07-05T07:32:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-05T07:32:09","slug":"surprise-twist-could-fix-red-soxs-biggest-hole","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=66225","title":{"rendered":"Surprise Twist Could Fix Red Sox\u2019s Biggest Hole"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"post-featured-container-id\">\n<div id=\"post-featured\">\n<div>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Masataka-Yoshida-1.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 95vw, 780px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Masataka-Yoshida-1.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780 780w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Masataka-Yoshida-1.jpg?quality=15&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Masataka-Yoshida-1.jpg?quality=35&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1350 1350w\" alt=\"Surprise Twist Could Fix Red Sox\u2019s Biggest Hole\" width=\"780\" height=\"439\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Getty<\/p>\n<p>Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If there\u2019s a silver lining to the revolving door at first base for the <\/span>Boston Red Sox <span data-contrast=\"auto\"> this season, it might just be taking unexpected grounders in Worcester.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Masataka Yoshida <span data-contrast=\"auto\">, Boston\u2019s <\/span>$90 million swing experiment <span data-contrast=\"auto\">, was spotted fielding ground balls at first base <\/span>with the Woo Sox <span data-contrast=\"auto\"> this week. Suddenly, the Red Sox might have stumbled onto a way to squeeze more value out of <\/span>a bat they still desperately need <span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to work.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yoshida\u2019s <\/span>5-year deal <span data-contrast=\"auto\"> was always about the hit tool. He <\/span>arrived from Japan <span data-contrast=\"auto\"> billed as a pure contact machine and on-base monster, a lefty stick with a knack for finding barrels. And in the first two seasons, the results have been favorable \u2026 when he\u2019s healthy.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">During his two seasons, Yoshida has slashed .285\/.343\/.433, with 25 home runs and 128 RBIs in 248 games. He had surgery on his right shoulder after the 2024 season was not cleared to take live batting practice until February 26.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Masataka Yoshida Takes Grounders at First Base Ahead of Game at Worcester<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The injury did not impair Yoshida\u2019s ability to swing a bat, and he hit well in spring training. But with Yoshida\u2019s throwing limited, the Red Sox decided against using him as a designated hitter, putting Yoshida on a rehab program to build up his throwing arm.\u00a0 Yoshida is three games into a rehab assignment, and he played in the outfield for one game while DH\u2019ing the others.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">On Wednesday, Tommy Cassell, a local sports reporter, posted a video to X (formerly Twitter) of Yoshida taking groundballs ahead of the game at Polar Park. Chris Cotillo of MassLive shared the post, offering some extra news on the subject:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cChecked in on this: I\u2019m told Red Sox are planning to get Yoshida some \u201clight work\u201d pregame at first base during his rehab assignment while they have the time but are prioritizing DH and outfield, as you\u2019d expect. As of now, it\u2019s not likely he gets into games at 1B. But they\u2019ll see how it goes.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Red Sox\u2019s willingness to try Yoshida at first base underscores their frustration with the poor production from those who\u2019ve failed to fill the position effectively.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Boston Would Benefit From Masataka Yoshida\u2019s Production at First Base<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u2019s been just over two months since Triston Casas <\/span>suffered the knee injury <span data-contrast=\"auto\"> that ended his season on May 2. Boston was hoping that Casas would be able to play first base <\/span>on an every-game basis <span data-contrast=\"auto\"> this season, but he only played in 28 games.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Since losing Casas, Abraham Toro has filled in the most, playing 37 games. Romy Gonzalez has played 29 games at first, and Nick Sogard played 11. The offense from that trio has been pretty light,\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Getting Yoshida\u2019s production from that spot would be beneficial for a team still clinging to playoff hopes. <\/span>At 44-45 overall <span data-contrast=\"auto\">, Boston is 6.5 games behind the New York Yankees in the American League East, and 2.5 games out of the final wild card spot.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Dave Benson Dave Benson is a longtime writer with over three decades of experience in a variety of mediums, including 15 years covering high school, collegiate and minor league sports in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Dave is also a licensed English teacher and spent a few years teaching at the middle school level. More about Dave Benson<\/p>\n<h2>More Heavy on Red Sox<\/h2>\n<p>Loading more stories<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With the Boston Red Sox receiving inadequate production at first base, Masataka Yoshida took grounders at first during pregame at Worcester.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":66226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-66225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Surprise Twist Could Fix Red Sox\u2019s Biggest Hole - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=66225\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Surprise Twist Could Fix Red Sox\u2019s Biggest Hole - 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