2 weeks agoBoston 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.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Jen McCaffrey
3 weeks agoBoston Red Sox designated hitter
Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) is set to make his spring debut on Sunday. Yoshida is expected to serve as a designated hitter. The 31-year-old is still recovering from the surgery he underwent on his right labrum in October. Yoshida will continue to serve as a DH for the time being as he has yet to fully progress through his throwing program. Last summer, he made only one start in the outfield and logged his other starts as a DH. Across 108 contests, Yoshida held a .280/.349/.415 slash line with 21 doubles and 10 home runs. He swiped two bags. Under the hood, he generated a .258 xBA with a modest .322 xwOBA, suggesting he may face some regression when he returns to the field. During the regular season, fantasy managers should expect him to operate primarily as a DH, which could limit his playing time.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Christopher Smith
3 weeks agoBoston Red Sox outfielder
Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) is ready to serve as the designated hitter during spring training. The organization has been bringing him along slowly due to his lingering shoulder issues. It's good news that Yoshida is ready to start swinging the bat during games. However, Yoshida is still early in his throwing program and has only progressed to throwing from 45 feet. The expectation is that Yoshida is going to spend most of his time at DH anyway this season. The Red Sox already have three capable outfielders, so Yoshida is the odd man out right now and could see even fewer at-bats if
Rafael Devers (shoulder) moves to more of a permanent DH role in 2025.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Ian Browne
3 weeks agoBoston Red Sox designated hitter
Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) has been cleared to take live batting practice in camp, according to Mass Live's Christopher Smith. Yoshida needed surgery last October to fix a tear in the labrum in his right shoulder, which is why he's been delayed early in spring training. However, the Red Sox expect the 31-year-old Japanese slugger to be ready for Opening Day at the end of March as long as he doesn't suffer any setbacks with his surgically repaired shoulder once he begins swinging a bat. Even if Yoshida is ready for the start of the 2025 regular season, his fantasy value will be down after disappointing in his first two big-league seasons in Beantown. He makes plenty of contact and has hit .285 in 248 games, but he lacks power (25 homers) and is a DH-only in fantasy. If the Red Sox end up moving
Rafael Devers or
Triston Casas to DH in 2025, Yoshida could lose valuable playing time.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
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