Masataka Yoshida Cleared For Rehab Assignment

The health of Boston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida continues to improve after the team placed the 31-year-old Japanese slugger on the 60-day injured list (right shoulder labral repair) on May 22.

Yoshida, who has recently been spotted working out with the team before games, was sent on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday. Yoshida appeared in 108 games for the Red Sox last season and missed significant time due to his shoulder issue.

The Red Sox offense has faced its share of challenges this season. First baseman Triston Casas was placed on the 60-day IL with a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee. To make matters worse, third baseman Alex Bregman joined Casas on the IL on May 24. The shocking June 15 trade of designated hitter Rafael Devers also weakened Boston’s lineup considerably.

Adding Yoshida’s left-handed bat back into the Red Sox lineup will add a much-needed veteran presence to a largely young and inexperienced batting order.

“(Yoshida is) moving well; his swing feels great,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters, as transcribed by The Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham.

With a likely return following the All-Star break, Yoshida appears to be on a similar trajectory as Bregman, who’s been ramping up his baseball activities on the field and in the batting cages over the last week.

Since signing a five-year, $90 million deal in December 2022, Yoshida has batted .285 with 25 home runs and 128 RBI in 915 at-bats.