Masataka Yoshida set to return from injury during Red Sox homestand
Yoshida entering the mix gives Alex Cora a "luxury" of lineup options.
Alex Cora didn’t specify exactly when Masataka Yoshida will return to the Red Sox lineup, but it could come as soon as Tuesday’s matchup with the Colorado Rockies.
Yoshida hit a pair of RBI singles in his rehab outing with Double-A Portland on Saturday and has one more scheduled appearance on Sunday before a day off on Monday. At some point after that, he’ll be activated in Boston and be able to play whenever Cora decides.
Of course, the question on most fans’ minds isn’t when he’ll play, but where?
Prior to Boston trading Rafael Devers in June, Yoshida’s path to the lineup was very unclear. But as of July, it seems likely the Red Sox designated hitter in 2024 will return to that role again in 2025, possibly in a platoon capacity. Yoshida would likely be Boston’s full-time designated hitter against righty pitchers, while Rob Refsnyder would still likely man the role against lefties.
“[Yoshida’s] gonna hit,” Cora told reporters Saturday. “He’s gonna hit and he’s gonna play wherever we need him to play, whether its outfield or DH.”
As far as the option of playing first base goes though, it doesn’t seem like Cora is giving that any real consideration at this time.
Though Yoshida has done some practice work fielding grounders at first, his MLB experience remains strictly at left field and designated hitter. And even if first base seems like a possible fit for Yoshida as one of the weaker points of Boston’s defense, plugging the 31-year-old there will seemingly be reserved for only the most peculiar circumstances.
“The first base thing, like I said, it’s not like we’re going to start him there,” Cora said. “But let’s say he’s playing the outfield and we’re aggressive with pinch-hitters and in the ninth or 10th inning, he can stand there and make plays and we’ll use him.”
So Yoshida’s defensive position will remain in the outfield for the foreseeable future. But if Cora believed he wasn’t good enough or healthy enough to play in the outfield in 2024, Yoshida doesn’t exactly have an easier path in 2025.
Boston already has five outfielders consistently rotating, with four having solidified resumes to be everyday starters under different circumstances: Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, and Ceddanne Rafaela.
Rafaela has arguably the best defensive upside of the group, Roman Anthony is the No. 1 prospect in baseball, Duran is a former All-Star and Abreu is a former gold glover. Yoshida being added to the mix certainly complicates matters even more, but Cora is embracing that.
“That’s where we’re at roster-wise,” Cora said. “It’s not a problem, it’s a luxury to be honest.”
After attempting to patch a number of leaky holes in a Red Sox roster partially decimated by injuries early in the year, having too many players for the lineup is undoubtedly a better problem to have. And even if Yoshida’s outfield time is limited, he’ll still be able to help stabilize Boston’s lineup offensively.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com