Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Not close to rehab assignment
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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.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Playing in extended spring soon
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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.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Not close to rehab assignment
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Yoshida (shoulder) is throwing out to 110 feet but will not be ready for a rehab assignment next week, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Yoshida landed on the 10-day injured list prior to Opening Day while he continues his recovery from right shoulder surgery, and he also dealt with a more recent back issue. The back problem has cleared up, but Yoshida remains limited to playing catch and Cora noted the 31-year-old will have to show he can make throws from the outfield before he's cleared for games. It's uncertain when that might happen, but Yoshida's return is not imminent.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Resumes baseball activities
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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.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Managing back issue
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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.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Hits injured list
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The Red Sox placed Yoshida (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Yoshida still isn't able to play defense as he works his way back from a right shoulder labral repair surgery, so he'll get a late start to the season. He's ramping up his throwing and could be ready to begin a rehab assignment before long. With the Red Sox seemingly committed to Rafael Devers as their full-time designated hitter in 2025, Yoshida could have difficulty finding regular at-bats once he's healthy.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Will move rehab to Triple-A
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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.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Throwing, but not ready for field
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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.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Expected to open season on IL
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Yoshida (shoulder) will "most likely" begin the season on the 10-day injured list, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports.
Yoshida hit his first Grapefruit League home run Tuesday and his "swing is there," per Cora. However, the 31-year-old is currently throwing from just 100 feet as he comes back from right shoulder surgery, and the Red Sox want him to have no restrictions in the outfield before he joins the active roster. With Rafael Devers (shoulders) expected to open the season at designated hitter and Boston's three outfield spots spoken for, Yoshida's role when he is ready to make his season debut is uncertain.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Making spring debut Sunday
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Yoshida (shoulder) will make his Grapefruit League debut Sunday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Yoshida will be limited to DH during his first several appearances, as he's only progressed to throwing from 45 feet out since undergoing surgery on his right labrum in October. If he's not ready to return to the field by the end of spring, the Red Sox may opt to put him on the injured list for the beginning of the season.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Cleared for live batting practice
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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.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Unsure for Opening Day
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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.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Could play some outfield in 2025
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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.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Should be swinging bat this spring
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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.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Out of lineup
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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.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Starting vs. southpaw
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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.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: On bench Saturday
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Yoshida is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox.
Yoshida will take a seat Saturday as the White Sox trot out left-hander Garrett Crochet. Rob Refsnyder will take over at DH and bat third.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Out of lineup Friday
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Yoshida isn't part of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Tigers, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
After making nine consecutive starts at DH, Yoshida will take a seat Friday against Detroit. Rafael Devers slots in at DH while Nick Sogard plays third base.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Homers off bench Monday
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Yoshida went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in a loss to Houston on Monday.
Yoshida began the game on the bench but pinch hit for Connor Wong in the sixth inning. The 31-year-old came through with a big knock, swatting a two-run homer to left field to give Boston a two-run lead. The long ball also extended Yoshida's hitting streak to seven games, during which he's batting an absurd .632 (12-for-19) with two homers, six RBI, six runs and four walks.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: On bench Monday
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Yoshida is out of the lineup for Monday's game against Houston.
Yoshida will avoid a matchup with lefty Yusei Kikuchi on Monday, as Connor Wong DH's and Danny Jansen catches. Yoshida has now been on the bench for two consecutive games against LHP after starting in six of Boston's previous seven against southpaws.
