Red Sox Designated Hitter Masataka Yoshida Set to Start Rehab Assignment Soon
Red Sox Designated Hitter Masataka Yoshida Set to Start Rehab Assignment Soon originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Boston Red Sox, in the wake of trading Rafael Devers, need a new designated hitter. One of the players who could take over that role has been out due to injury, but after a new report, things are trending in the right direction.
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According to Chris Cotillo of Mass Live on Twitter/X, Alex Cora said that designated hitter and outfielder Masataka Yoshida could go on a rehab assignment soon. This is great news for the Red Sox, as Yoshida is set to be a major factor in their search for a Devers replacement.
When a player goes on a rehab assignment, that typically means that player is approaching his return to the roster. This move is a big one for the Red Sox, especially after trading away their designated hitter a week ago.
Yoshida, while not expected to be a full-time designated hitter when he returns, could be part of a strong platoon. Cora previously referenced Yoshida and Rob Refsnyder splitting time in that spot.
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Yoshida is currently on the 60-day injured list, but is nearing a return to the big leagues. While he's still a ways away, this update is a very encouraging sign and is positive overall, as it's the first sign that Yoshida is nearing his return.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida (7) runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Yankees in the sixth inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field.Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
In his Red Sox career, Yoshida has 25 home runs and a .285 batting average across 915 at-bats. He's a fairly consistent slugger, as each of the past two seasons he has 1.4 WAR and very similar averages.
In 2023 Yoshida hit .289/.338/.445 with a .783 OPS and a 109 OPS+. In 2024, Yoshida hit .280/.349/.415 with a .765 OPS and a 115 OPS+. Both seasons were very close to one another, and upon his return, his numbers could very likely look the same.
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If they did, Boston would be adding a huge bat to their lineup down the stretch as they look to lock up a Wild Card spot in a hotly contested AL Wild Card race. Yoshida's return isn't immediate, but his starting a rehab assignment is good news that he's closer to his return.
Related: Red Sox Make Major Roster Announcement Ahead of Giants Series
Related: Red Sox Urged to Trade With AL Rival For Projected All-Star Amid Rafael Devers Trade
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
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