For the Red Sox, the 2025 season has not so much been a matter of two steps forward and one step back. It’s been more like four out of five, five out of six, and more recently, 10 out of 12 steps forward, followed by four steps back. Or five. Or in Boston’s case, after Friday’s loss to the Blue Jays, a season-high six steps back.
As in six straight losses, the longest losing streak in three years for the team.
While the pitching has, as always, been among the culprits for the Red Sox in this streak, the return of two old nemeses00bad fielding and bad baserunning–have made a comeback, too. Worse, this is a team with arguably the least fearsome lineup the Red Sox have put on the field since the 1990s, devoid of true sluggers in the wake of Alex Bregman‘s injury and the trade of Rafael Devers.
With that in mind, any good news on the offensive front would be welcome. And while this is only mildly good news, the team appears, finally, to be ready to get injured designated hitter Masataka Yoshida back. He will begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday.
Red Sox Give Good News on Masataka Yoshida
Given the fact that, as of now, the Red Sox will take position players wherever they can get them, manager Alex Cora indicated that we may see Yoshida in the field again when he returns. He has been returning from a shoulder injury that bothered him since last season, and required surgery in the offseason. The Red Sox have been slow-playing Yoshida’s return, wanting to make sure he can throw before he gets back in the lineup.
Yoshida played in the outfield for 87 games in 2023, and spent 49 games DHing that season. Last year, he was the DH for 101 games and played in the field only once.
“The swing feels great. The throwing has been a lot better being able to bounce back. We just have to map it out how many games in the outfield versus [at] DH,” Cora said. “In the end, when the hitting feels comfortable, he’ll be with us.”
Red Sox fans have seen enough of Yoshida in the past two years to get too excited, though. He has, after all, batted .285 with only 25 home runs in two years, not providing nearly the power that was expected of him when he was given a $90 million contract two years ago.
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