Masataka Yoshida’s return to the Red Sox lineup may occur as soon as Tuesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies, though Alex Cora did not say when.
In his rehab appearance with Double-A Portland on Saturday, Yoshida hit two RBI singles. He will make one more appearance on Sunday before taking Monday off. Once he is activated in Boston, he will be able to play anytime Cora chooses.
Naturally, the majority of fans are more concerned with where he will perform than with when.
Yoshida’s route to the starting lineup was rather hazy before Boston traded Rafael Devers in June. However, as of July, it appears likely that the Red Sox’s 2024 designated hitter will play that position once more in 2025, perhaps in a platoon capacity. Rob Refsnyder would still probably be Boston’s full-time designated hitter against lefties, but Yoshida would probably be the team’s primary batter versus righties.
On Saturday, Cora informed reporters that Yoshida will bat. He will play anywhere we need him to, whether it be DH or outfield, and he will hit.
Masataka Yoshida will be active throughout the forthcoming homestand, according to Alex Cora. They don’t know when. Tanner Houck is going to start rehab again.
However, it doesn’t appear that Cora is currently considering playing first base as a viable alternative.
Yoshida’s MLB experience is limited to left field and designated hitter, despite some initial practice fielding grounders. Furthermore, even though Yoshida would be a good fit at first base because it’s one of Boston’s defense’s weak spots, the 31-year-old will only be used there in the most unusual situations.
Cora remarked, “As I mentioned, it’s not like we’re going to start him there.” However, if he is in the outfield and we are aggressive with pinch hitters, he can stand there and make plays, and we will use him in the ninth or tenth inning.
For the foreseeable future, Yoshida will continue to play defense in the outfield. Yoshida doesn’t exactly have an easier route in 2025, though, if Cora thought he wasn’t healthy or skilled enough to play in the outfield in 2024.
Four of Boston’s five outfielders—Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, and Ceddanne Rafaela—have established credentials that allow them to start every day in a variety of situations.
Abreu is a past gold glover, Duran is a former All-Star, Roman Anthony is baseball’s top prospect, and Rafaela has maybe the best defensive potential of the group. The addition of Yoshida to the mix undoubtedly makes things even more difficult, but Cora is accepting that.
According to Cora, that’s where we stand on the roster. To be honest, it’s a luxury rather than an issue.
Having too many players for the lineup is definitely a better problem to have after trying to mend a number of leaking holes in a Red Sox roster that was partially destroyed by injuries early in the season. Additionally, Yoshida can still help balance Boston’s lineup offensively even if his outfield time is restricted.
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