Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports

Red Sox Get Update on Masataka Yoshida Amid Health Concerns

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jon Conahan | Last updated May 18, 2025 5:30 PM ET

Masataka Yoshida, currently playing on a five-year, $90 million deal, has yet to play for the Boston Red Sox this season. When he’s in the lineup, the Red Sox are a better team, but it's still uncertain when he’ll return to Boston.

The Red Sox are hopeful that at some point in the near future, he can at least return to the lineup. The issue with that? Well, Rafael Devers doesn't want to play first base, and unless Boston decides to sit him, there isn't much of a place to play for Yoshida without throwing the baseball.

And according to a recent report, it doesn't sound like he'll be throwing anytime soon. For now, he's just getting swings off the tee and is having cortisone shots.

"Red Sox' Masataka Yoshida has begun taking swings again after he had a cortisone shot May 4," MassLive.com's Christopher Smith shared. "'Off the Tee, dry swings,' (Manager Alex Cora) said. 'Not throwing yet.'"

It's been a tough situation for Yoshida and the Red Sox.

Not only does Boston want him on the field because of how much he makes, but the Red Sox haven't exactly been great to start the year.

If they could add a player who has posted an above 110 OPS+ in each of his first two seasons at the big league level, this lineup would look much different.

This goes to show why Devers being selfish doesn't help anybody in the organization, but it's clear that he doesn't think he's the issue.

For Yoshida, however, hopefully, things start to turn in a much better direction for the international star.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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