Masataka Yoshida targeting Opening Day for return following shoulder surgery
The Red Sox announced this week that designated hitter Masataka Yoshida underwent successful surgery to repair cartilage in his right shoulder. The team said Yoshida had right shoulder labral repair on Oct. 3.
The Japanese star is targeting Opening Day for his return following his current injury.
Yoshida’s surgery comes at a less than ideal time for the Red Sox. Speculation prior to the offseason was the club would look to move him in a deal to get out of under his contract and give the roster more flexibility.
With Yoshida rehabbing back from surgery this winter, it’s all but guaranteed he will be with the Red Sox come next spring. Which may not be a bad thing if he’s finally healthy. The Red Sox are targeting right-handed hitting this winter to help balance their left-handed heavy lineup. If the Sox were able to move Triston Casas for a top of the line arm and add right-handed pop, having Yoshida’s lefty bat at the bottom of the lineup would offer more balance. The likelihood Casas is moved is low, and his upside is undeniable.
Hypothetically, if Boston moved Casas and signed either Teoscar Hernandez or even Alex Bregman to play third and shift Rafael Devers to first base, the Red Sox would fix their left-handed issues heading into 2025, and Yoshida could DH at the bottom of the lineup.
Yoshida’s second season with the Red Sox saw him primarily as the team’s designated hitter after playing left field as a rookie in 2023. The left-handed hitter played in 108 games; he hit .280 with 10 homers with 56 RBI, 21 doubles, and two stolen bases while recording a .764 OPS.
“Going into my second year, I was expecting a lot from myself. It was actually far from what I expected myself to be,” Yoshida said during the last week of the season. “Compared to other elite, first-class guys, I’m not there yet, physically or mentally.”
Yoshida told Japanese reporters that his shoulder injury prevented him from throwing long distances this season. Meanwhile, the Red Sox maintained all season long that Yoshida not playing the field was not related to physical issues. Alex Cora said that Yoshida not playing the field had more to do with the abundance of outfielders on the roster.
With the offseason set to begin in a few weeks, the idea of the Red Sox moving Yoshida with $54 million owed to him and a shoulder injury is slim. If he remains with the Sox, Yoshida needs to come in better shape to last a full 162 game season.
