The Boston Red Sox, currently facing a difficult stretch in their season, may soon see a boost to their lineup.
Manager Alex Cora revealed that Masataka Yoshida is scheduled to begin a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday. The 31-year-old designated hitter and outfielder has not participated this season due to surgery on his right shoulder performed in October.
“He’s set for a rehab assignment. We’ll determine how many at-bats he requires,” Cora mentioned on Saturday before the team’s dominant 15-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park, which snapped Boston’s season-high six-game losing streak.
“Yoshida is progressing well, his swing feels great, and his throwing has significantly improved,” Cora commented. “He’s recovering well, so we must strategize his return carefully.”
Cora also mentioned that Yoshida would spend some time playing in the outfield. Despite mainly serving as the designated hitter last season, he appeared in left field just once across 108 games.
In 2023, marking his first season with the team after signing a five-year, $90-million free agent contract, Yoshida played 85 games in left field.
On Saturday, Yoshida was seen catching fly balls during batting practice in right field, running bases during others’ hits, and taking additional batting practice.
In addition, third baseman Alex Bregman, sidelined since late May due to a strained right quad, participated in light running on the infield and fielded grounders at third base, successfully making throws across the diamond during Red Sox batting practice.
“He just finished his ground ball drills,” Cora stated. “It was a productive day for both him and Masa.”
Before his injury, Bregman had been one of Boston’s most effective hitters, boasting a .299 average with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs over 51 games. Cora noted that Bregman, also 31, is expected to return only after the All-Star break.
As of Saturday, Boston was in its worst losing streak since September 2022. The Red Sox had lost the opening game of a three-game series against Toronto, falling 9-0 on Friday night.
Boston managed only four hits in Friday’s game but replicated that number by the first inning on Saturday, initiating a trio of three-run innings.
“Clearly, we needed this outcome, but we’re not panicking,” Cora said about the team’s recent struggles. “It’s a normal part of the season. The situation is being exaggerated.”
The Red Sox had signed Bregman in a mid-February transaction with a three-year, $120-million contract as a free agent.