Masataka Yoshida DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Sean McAdam of Masslive.com reports that Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) traveled back to Boston for consultation on the back injury he's dealing with. McAdam notes that he'll stay there for shoulder rehab until he is game-ready. The 31-year-old was never expected to be ready for the Red Sox opener, though it shouldn't be long before he rejoins the team. The lefty hit a respectable .286 this spring (10-for-35) in 11 appearances but was having issues throwing the ball while recovering from surgery to fix a torn labrum in his right shoulder last October. He was far superior against right-handed pitching in 2024.

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) will start the 2025 season at Triple-A Worcester as he continues to build out his throwing program as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. Specifically, Yoshida won't play in the WooSox's opening home series but will likely join the team in Jacksonville on April 1. This had been the expectation for a while for the 31-year-old lefty hitter after he had surgery last October to fix a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He was able to make nine starts in the Grapefruit League and hit a solid .321 in 28 plate appearances, but he's not ready to throw, which is an issue now that Rafael Devers is opening the year as Boston's primary designated hitter. Even when Yoshida is return to make his 2025 debut for the BoSox, his playing time is likely to be limited as a platoon option in left field.

Boston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) continues to build up his throwing progression after having offseason right-shoulder surgery, but he's only throwing at 60 feet. Yoshida has appeared in Grapefruit League games at DH, but The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey thinks the likely scenario at this point is that Yoshida will start the season on the injured list with third baseman Rafael Devers (shoulders) serving as the DH. The 31-year-old Japanese outfielder has gone 4-for-16 with a double and four RBI in five spring training games. With Devers potentially serving as the regular DH for the majority of the 2025 season, it means that Yoshida would have to return to outfield work if he's to continue seeing regular at-bats. Yoshida has made plenty of contact in his two years in the big leagues, but his lack of power and dwindling playing time are an issue for his dwindling fantasy value.