12:46 pm: In accordance with Ian Browne of MLB.com, the Pink Sox are hoping Yoshida might be again within the lineup and able to play on Opening Day.
11:44 am: Masataka Yoshida had surgical procedure to restore the labrum in his proper shoulder earlier this month, the Pink Sox introduced. The 31-year-old sat out the ultimate two video games of the common season as he contemplated the best way to handle the shoulder soreness that had bothered him for many of the yr. He underwent an MRI after the season, and evidently, the outcomes satisfied him and the Pink Sox that surgical procedure was one of the best plan of action.
The Pink Sox described the process as “profitable,” although it’s unclear what meaning relating to Yoshida’s timeline to return. The same old restoration interval for place gamers who endure a labrum restore is someplace between 4 to 6 months. Reds infielder Matt McLain had labral restore surgical procedure this previous March and initially hoped to return in August earlier than struggling a setback. In the meantime, Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim had a labrum restore of his personal this offseason, and he’s hoping to return someday between mid-April and early Might. Kim’s anticipated timeline is barely longer than McLain’s, however it’s price noting that Kim’s harm was in his throwing shoulder whereas McLain’s was not. Yoshida’s harm can also be in his throwing shoulder, however as a chosen hitter and a left-handed batter, maybe his restoration timeline might be on the shorter finish of the spectrum. If his timeline is just like McLain’s unique aim, he might be able to return to sport motion someday subsequent March.
The 2024 season was sophisticated for Yoshida when it comes to each his harm standing and taking part in time. There was reportedly rigidity all year long between Yoshida and the Pink Sox, each as a result of he sought exterior opinions relating to a thumb harm in opposition to the group’s needs and since he was sad to be restricted to a platoon DH function when wholesome. Thus, between his harm troubles, defensive shortcomings, and poor efficiency in opposition to left-handed pitching, to not point out any behind-the-scenes rigidity, Yoshida’s tenure in Boston hasn’t gotten off to the strongest begin. It’s honest to surprise if a change of surroundings would do him some good, though his latest surgical procedure and the $55.8MM remaining on his contract by means of 2027 may make a commerce troublesome to place collectively.
If Yoshida stays with the Pink Sox subsequent season, it’s laborious to think about his function altering all that a lot. Boston has two of one of the best defensive nook outfielders within the league, with Jarren Duran manning left subject and Wilyer Abreu overlaying proper. Duran can play heart as properly, however former prime prospect Ceddanne Rafaela is way extra beneficial as an elite defensive heart fielder than a stopgap shortstop, and he wants common taking part in time if he’s going to enhance on the plate. On the offensive aspect of issues, Yoshida goes to wish to slowly earn again taking part in time in opposition to left-handed pitchers; he put up a 103 wRC+ in opposition to lefties in 2023 however a dreadful 58 wRC+ in opposition to southpaws in 2024. Contemplating the Pink Sox will have already got at the least 4 lefty batters within the on a regular basis lineup subsequent yr – Rafael Devers, Triston Casas, Duran, and Abreu – it’s comprehensible why Cora would possibly want to sub out Yoshida for a right-handed bat at DH. Thus, if Yoshida desires to be an on a regular basis participant for the Pink Sox in 2025, he’ll must make a fast restoration over the offseason and are available to camp prepared to deal with his weaknesses on the plate and within the subject.
