The Boston Red Sox are 25-25, but could be getting some help soon from the injured list. One of their injured sluggers is taking steps toward making his season debut.
Masataka Yoshida has not played this season after a shoulder surgery in October. However, manager Alex Cora told reporters that Yoshida will begin throwing today from 60 feet, according to MassLive's Chris Cotillo. Yoshida was the team's primary designated hitter last year, but he will need to play in the outfield now.
The Red Sox have made Rafael Devers their everyday designated hitter. That move is what forces Yoshida to play in the outfield more now. However, there are two problems with that. Yoshida is not a great defender, and it further complicates Roman Anthony being called up.
He played 87 games in the outfield in 2023, his first season in the big leagues. He had a minus-eight outs above average, according to Baseball Savant. His fielding run value was a minus-12, one of the worst in baseball that year. As a result of his poor defense, in 2024, he made 98 starts as the team's designated hitter.
Now, being forced back into the outfield, he gives Alex Cora another player he has to manage at-bats for. The Red Sox already have Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and Jarren Duran. Those three alone are playing a role in keeping the top prospect in baseball down in Triple-A. Now with Yoshida in the mix, it becomes even tougher to call up Anthony.
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Yoshida signed a five-year, $90 million deal with the Red Sox before the 2023 season. However, he has failed to live up to his contract. He has hit just 25 home runs in two seasons after hitting 20-plus home runs in four of his final five seasons in Japan.