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Yoshida remains with no obvious role entering the final week of spring training, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Yoshida made some noise for Team Japan during the World Baseball Classic, but he returned to Fort Myers in the same position as when he departed for the WBC. The Red Sox have five outfielders for four positions, including DH. Boston manager Alex Cora feels it's a luxury as opposed to a problem and will figure out how the pieces can fit. At this point, it's hard to see where Yoshida fits on a regular basis.
Yoshida's role for the 2026 roster is uncertain entering training camp, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Yoshida enters the fourth year of a five-year contract having underwhelmed since his arrival in Boston. Injuries have played a part, but the 32-year-old has also been passed on the depth chart by younger options. A shoulder injury to open 2025 limited him to 55 regular-season games in which he recorded an unremarkable slash line of .266/.307/.388, but an .837 OPS during the month of September suggests the shoulder was still an issue most of the year. Designated hitter appears to be his best fit, but the Red Sox also need to figure out a spot for Triston Casas (knee) when he's cleared to play, and the team already has four other outfielders pushing for regular at-bats.
Yoshida is absent from the lineup Tuesday in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Yankees.
It will be lefty Max Fried on the bump for the Yankees, so the left-handed-hitting Yoshida will retreat to the bench to begin the contest. Rob Refsnyder is starting at designated hitter and batting leadoff for the Red Sox.
Yoshida went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 4-3 win over the Tigers.
The Red Sox did little against Detroit starter Casey Mize for six innings until Yoshida opened the seventh with a single. Two batters later and after 80 pitches, Mize was removed, and the Red Sox took advantage of the bullpen. Yoshida scored in the seventh, and Boston scored runs in the following two innings to complete the comeback. The multi-hit effort extended Yoshida's hit streak to seven games, during which he's gone 13-for-30 (.433) with four extra-base hits and five RBI.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Runs RBI streak to five games
Rotowire
Yoshida went 2-for-5 with an RBI in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Rays.
Yoshida extended an RBI streak to five games when his single plated the second run in Boston's three-run ninth inning. He's knocked in six runs during the streak. September has been Yoshida's most productive month, as he's batting .302 (13-for-43) with nine RBI over 13 contests. He should see regular work as the designated hitter against right-handers over the final week of the regular season.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Knocks in two in win
Rotowire
Yoshida went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Athletics.
Yoshida, who entered the game with a .618 OPS through 44 games, batted cleanup and delivered a run-scoring single in the first inning. He later hustled out an infield single with the bases loaded to plate a run in the fifth. His season numbers are underwhelming, but Yoshida is making a modest impact in September. He's gone 10-for-32 (.313) with two doubles and six RBI over 10 games this month.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Out of lineup versus lefty
Rotowire
Yoshida is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Guardians.
Yoshida had started in all three of the Red Sox's games versus Pittsburgh over the weekend and went 2-for-10 with two walks and one run, but he'll head to the bench Monday while the Guardians send lefty Parker Messick to the hill. Rob Refsnyder will replace Yoshida in the lineup at designated hitter.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Finishes month on sour note
Rotowire
Yoshida served as the designated hitter and went 0-for-4 in Sunday's 5-2 win over Pittsburgh.
Yoshida ended August on a down note. Over the final 12 games of the month, he had a .412 OPS with one extra-base hit and zero RBI. He's now batting just .224 with a .609 OPS and two home runs since his return to Boston in early July. It's fair to wonder how long Yoshida's leash is at DH given the limited impact his bat has made. Once Wilyer Abreu (calf) is ready to come off the IL, Yoshida's playing time should take a hit.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Idle against southpaw
Rotowire
Yoshida is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.
For the second time in the series, the left-handed-hitting Yoshida will bow out of the lineup while the Yankees send a left-handed pitcher (Carlos Rodon) to the bump. With Yoshida on the bench, Roman Anthony will serve as the Red Sox's designated hitter, and Jhostynxon Garcia will pick up a start in right field.
