Yoshida started at designated hitter and went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 10-2 win over the Rockies.
Yoshida made his season debut after missing the first 93 games while recovering from a shoulder injury. His rehab stint was relatively brief for having sat out such a long time -- five games, 17 plate appearances -- but Yoshida was ready for the majors. Boston's outfield was already a logjam with four players for three spots, but they had the DH spot to accommodate the at-bats for all four. Yoshida's return complicates matters.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Activated ahead of season debut
Rotowire
The Red Sox activated Yoshida (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Yoshida is finally ready to make his season debut for the Red Sox after a long recovery from offseason surgery on his right shoulder. The 31-year-old will start at designated hitter and will bat sixth in Wednesday's game versus righty Antonio Senzatela and the Rockies. Yoshida might have to get off to a good start if he wants to see regular playing time, as the Red Sox have lots of mouths to feed between the outfield and DH.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Likely returning Wednesday
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Yoshida (shoulder) will "most likely" be activated from the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Yoshida has played five rehab games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, going 4-for-14 with a 2:2 K:BB. He is with the Red Sox in Boston and will go through a workout Monday and "probably" another one Tuesday, according to Cora, before being activated for his season debut if all goes well. Yoshida's role upon his return is unclear, as Boston has already been struggling to find regular playing time for all its outfield and designated-hitter options. Yoshida made three starts at DH and two in left field during his rehab assignment.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Yoshida (shoulder) went 0-for-2 with a walk for Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday.
Yoshida kicked off a rehab assignment with the WooSox, serving as the DH and playing all seven innings in the first game of a doubleheader. Given his lengthy stint on the injured list, Yoshida may be given the maximum time allowed (20 days) before before being activated. It's unclear if there will be a regular role for Yoshida when he returns, particularly as Boston looks to get at-bats for top prospect Roman Anthony.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Getting test run at first base
Rotowire
The Red Sox plan to give Yoshida (shoulder) some "light work" at first base during his rehab assignment, Sean McAdam and Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com report.
Yoshida was seen working out at the position Wednesday prior to the first game of Worcester's doubleheader. While the Red Sox haven't ruled out Yoshida playing the position in games, it's seen as unlikely at this juncture, as he will focus on designated hitter and the outfield. Yoshida is serving as the DH and batting second in the first game of Worcester's twin bill in what will be his first game action since spring training. He could be transferred to Double-A Portland this weekend while Worcester begins a road trip. The Red Sox haven't put a timeline on Yoshida's activation from the 60-day injured list, but his rehab assignment could be a lengthy one given the 31-year-old's long layoff.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Season debut could be 'sped up'
Rotowire
Manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Yoshida's (shoulder) return from the 60-day injured list could be expedited after the Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the Giants on Sunday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. "We're going to meet [Tuesday or Wednesday] to go over a few things. Let's see if we can speed up the process," Cora said, in reference to when Yoshida might make his 2025 debut. "He can swing the bat. Now it's a matter of him getting at-bats and all that. But at the same time, respecting the rehab of the shoulder. So we'll decide that sooner rather than later."
Yoshida served exclusively as a designated hitter for the Red Sox in 2024 and has been operating with no restrictions at the plate since late February, but he's nonetheless remained on the IL all season while he's moved slowly through his throwing program following his Oct. 3 right shoulder labral repair. Because Devers had been serving as a full-time DH prior to being traded, the Red Sox weren't willing to activate Yoshida until he proved that his shoulder presented no issues for him while playing in the corner outfield. However, with Devers now out of the picture, Cora said that the Red Sox are considering bringing Yoshida back from the IL before he's cleared to play defense, with the skipper floating the possibility of using him in a platoon at DH with the right-handed-hitting Rob Refsnyder. Yoshida -- who played catch out to 120 feet Tuesday -- would still be an option in the outfield once he finally completes his throwing program, though the Red Sox likely wouldn't have much of a need for him to play defense. Wilyer Abreu's (oblique) expected return from the 10-day IL this weekend will create a logjam in the outfield that could spill over to the DH spot, but the Red Sox might be able to keep Yoshida's bat in the lineup by handing center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela more starts at second base at the expense of Kristian Campbell and David Hamilton, both of whom have offered little offensive production since the beginning of May.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Making throws from outfield
Rotowire
Yoshida (shoulder) began throwing from left field to second base Thursday, MLB.com reports.
Yoshida is increasing the intensity and velocity of his throwing, a sign that he has turned a corner in his rehab from a right shoulder labrum tear. The Red Sox are anticipating a return after the All-Star break; however, it's unclear what role awaits Yoshida. Boston recently promoted top prospect and outfielder Roman Anthony, who will need regular at-bats. Designated hitter isn't a realistic option -- Yoshida has served as the DH in the past -- because Rafael Devers has a grip on that position.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Increases intensity
Rotowire
Yoshida (shoulder) has increased the intensity of his throwing program while playing catch out to 75 feet, MLB.com reports.
Yoshida had been throwing out to 120 feet prior to being shut down in April. The club hasn't pegged an estimated return date for Yoshida, other than this report indicating July at the earliest. Even when Yoshida is ready to go, there's no guarantee he has a spot in the starting lineup.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Not close to rehab assignment
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Yoshida (shoulder) is not close to a rebab assignment, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Yoshida continues to rehab in Fort Myers and is working on a throwing program. He's not going to be ready for duty in the majors until he's able to make throws from the outfield.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Playing in extended spring soon
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Yoshida (shoulder) will begin playing in extended spring training games next week, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Cora noted that Yoshida currently has good days and bad days with how his surgically repaired right shoulder is feeling and won't be cleared for a formal minor-league rehab assignment until he is throwing at full strength consistently. With Rafael Devers at designated hitter and Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu absorbing the bulk of the outfield at-bats with the big club, Yoshida faces uncertainty with his playing time once he's deemed ready to rejoin the active roster.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Resumes baseball activities
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Yoshida (shoulder/back) has been cleared to resume baseball activities and took approximately 50 swings with a bat Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MLB.com reports.
Yoshida opened the season on the 10-day injured list while he continues his rehab program for the labral repair surgery he underwent Oct. 3. The 31-year-old was also managing back tightness at the tail end of spring training, but after a brief shutdown period, he's now resumed focusing on rehabbing the shoulder. Yoshida was able to serve as a designated hitter during the Grapefruit League, but he'll need to complete a throwing program and play the outfield in some minor-league rehab games before being activated from the IL. Cora said that Yoshida is feeling better but still not doing any throwing, so Yoshida's season debut doesn't appear to be imminent.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Managing back issue
Rotowire
Yoshida (shoulder), who was placed on the injured list earlier Thursday, will head to Boston to receive further consultation for a back injury, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports.
The severity of Yoshida's back injury remains unknown, but the team should provide an update once he's checked out back in Boston. Yoshida is already working his way back from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, which limited him strictly to designated-hitter duties in spring training. Provided his back issue proves to be minor, Yoshida should soon be able to head out on a rehab assignment, where he'll likely pick up at-bats both as a DH and corner outfielder.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Will move rehab to Triple-A
Rotowire
Yoshida (shoulder) will begin the regular season on the injured list and head to Triple-A Worcester to continue with his throwing program, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Once Yoshida's shoulder is fully built back up, he'll likely begin playing in rehab games at Worcester before returning to Boston, though there's still no telling how far away he is from reaching that point. Once healthy, the 31-year-old's clearest path to playing time will likely be as an outfielder with Rafael Devers now set to DH for the Red Sox, though even that isn't guaranteed to result in many at-bats for Yoshida.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Throwing, but not ready for field
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Yoshida (shoulder) threw out to 90 feet Tuesday but still has "a long way to go" before he's ready to play the corner outfield, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Coming off October surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, Yoshida is operating with no restrictions at the plate this spring, as he's made nine starts in Grapefruit League play as a designated hitter while producing a .321 average and .785 OPS over 28 plate appearances. However, because Rafael Devers (shoulders) won't be cleared to play third base before the end of the spring and appears set to open the season as Boston's primary DH, the Red Sox are unlikely to make room on the active roster for Yoshida if he's not an option in the outfield. Yoshida will likely continue to extend his throwing distance over the final week of the spring, but he appears ticketed for a stint on the injured list to begin the season. He'll presumably need to play left field in a few minor-league rehab games before the Red Sox are comfortable activating him.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Cleared for live batting practice
Rotowire
Yoshida (shoulder) received clearance Wednesday to participate in live batting practice, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Yoshida has been eased into workouts this spring as he comes back from last October's surgery to repair a labral tear in his right shoulder. The hope remains that he will be ready in time for Opening Day, and his clearance to take live BP in late February aligns with that timeline. Yoshida will likely be ready to serve as a designated hitter in Grapefruit League games before long, but the Red Sox will want him to show he can handle playing the outfield before they deem him ready for Opening Day.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Unsure for Opening Day
Rotowire
Yoshida (shoulder) said at January's Fan Fest that he's not sure he'll be ready for the start of the regular season, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Yoshida was set to begin swinging a bat by late January and throwing by March. He spent much of the winter in Boston with team trainers rehabbing from October shoulder surgery. Entering the third season of a five-year deal, Yoshida hasn't been able to stay healthy, which has impacted production. He'll likely serve as Boston's primary designated hitter, where he spent all but one game in 2024, and could see some starts in the outfield.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Could play some outfield in 2025
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said last week during the team's Fenway Fest fan event that Yoshida (shoulder) being able to play the outfield in 2025 "would be great for the roster," Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Yoshida was a full-time designated hitter in 2024, playing the outfield for just one inning in an emergency situation. The Red Sox had indicated previously that Yoshida's lack of time in the field was simply due to the club having better defensive options. However, Cora is now saying it was mainly because of Yoshida being compromised physically by a labral tear in his right shoulder, which he eventually had surgery on in early October. The hope is that Yoshida will be ready for Opening Day and it sounds like he could see a little outfield duty in 2025 for the Red Sox. That's if he's still with the team, of course, as his name has been bandied about in trade rumors.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Should be swinging bat this spring
Rotowire
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Monday that Yoshida (shoulder) is "making a ton of progress" and should be swinging a bat during spring training, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Yoshida underwent surgery in early October to repair a labral tear in his right shoulder. He's expected to be ready for Opening Day if all goes well during his rehab, and it sounds like he's checked off the necessary boxes thus far. Yoshida's name has come up in trade rumors this offseason, and while it appears the Red Sox would be happy to get out from under the $55.8 million he's still owed, they haven't been able to find any takers so far.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Out of lineup
Rotowire
Yoshida is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Mickey Gasper will serve as the designated hitter and bat eighth in the Red Sox's regular-season finale. Barring a pinch-hit appearance, Yoshida will end his second season in Boston having slashed .280/.349/.415 with 10 home runs and 56 RBI across 421 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Starting vs. southpaw
Rotowire
Yoshida will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth against the Yankees on Sunday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Although the Yankees are sending southpaw Carlos Rodon to the mound Sunday, the lefty-hitting Yoshida will be in the lineup while Rob Refsnyder (wrist) remains sidelined. Yoshida is slashing .198/.283/.302 with two home runs and 13 RBI across 99 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers this season.
