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: Still on throwing program
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Yoshida (shoulder) is still building out his throwing program and may not be ready to play in the outfield by the end of camp, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Yoshida has been limited to DH duties during Grapefruit League games. Boston manager Alex Cora said it's important that Yoshida be able to play the outfield, so it's possible Yoshida opens the season on the injured list while building up his throwing.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Likely to start season on IL
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Yoshida (shoulder) is likely to begin the season on the 10-day injured list, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Yoshida has seen action in five games this spring at designated hitter, but his throwing progression has been built up to just 60 feet as he comes back from right shoulder surgery and it appears the Red Sox would like him to be available to play the outfield before he's included on the roster. Rafael Devers (shoulders) currently appears likely to open the season as Boston's DH, so it's not clear what kind of role Yoshida will have once he joins the active roster.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Makes spring debut
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Yoshida served as the designated hitter and went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored in Sunday's spring game against the Mets.
Yoshida made his Grapefruit League debut Sunday and made an immediate impact. He came to the plate with the bases loaded in the first inning and delivered a ground-rule double then singled and drove in a run in his next at-bat. Yoshida has been slowed in the early weeks of camp as he completes rehab from a labral tear in his right shoulder, which will limit him to DH for now. Boston manager Alex Cora told Ian Browne of MLB.com that Yoshida is "still at 45 feet" in his throwing program. That suggests he may not be ready for the Opening Day roster if limited only to DH. The Red Sox are much deeper than when Yoshida signed with the club in 2023, and there's no urgency to rush him into an everyday role.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Ready to DH in spring games
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Yoshida (shoulder) is ready to serve as a designated hitter in Grapefruit League contests, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
It's not clear when exactly he'll make his spring debut, but it should be soon. Yoshida's rehab program as he recovers from surgery to repair a labral tear in his right shoulder has him throwing from 45 feet, so it will be a while before he's ready to play the outfield. It's not clear whether the Red Sox would consider carrying Yoshida on their Opening Day roster if he's not yet able to play the field.
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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.
Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Expects to be ready for Opening Day
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Yoshida (shoulder) said Tuesday that he expects to be ready for Opening Day, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Yoshida seemed less sure of his Opening Day availability at the Red Sox' Fan Fest in January, but as camp kicks off he appears confident he and his surgically repaired right shoulder will be ready. What role Yoshida will ultimately fill is in question. He had been pegged for designated hitter, but the Red Sox could prefer to use Rafael Devers in that spot while Alex Bregman takes over at third base. Yoshida has also been on the trade block this offseason, but so far Boston hasn't found any takers.
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.
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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