Masataka Yoshida, who is recovering from a torn labrum, has been cleared to hit live batting practice.
He’s recovering from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right arm.
Heading into 2025, Yoshida is a very interesting case for the Red Sox. Because of Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela (and top prospect Roman Anthony), he really has limited chances to play in the outfield. Thus, he’s slotted in as the designated hitter, at least against righties, but that’s a tough pill for the organization to stomach, considering they gave him $90 million just two winters ago.
Yoshida has seemed like a viable trade candidate for the organization, but this health issue — and the remaining $54 million or so on his contract — have obviously made that tough.
Yoshida hit .280 with 10 homers and 56 RBI in 2024, battling a thumb injury and his defensive limitations en route to just 378 at-bats. He still posted a solid .349 on-base percentage and has elite bat-to-ball skills. For a Red Sox team that is trying to cut down on strikeouts, he seems like a valuable piece, but playing time is challenging, as mentioned above.
The Red Sox are coming off a year in which they went 81-81 and finished third in the American League East. After offseason additions of Walker Buehler and Garrett Crochet, they do figure to be much better this season, potentially even challenging for the American League East title.
The Red Sox open the season on March 27 against the Texas Rangers.
Boston Red Sox Legend Pedro Martinez Sends Five-Word Message to 2025 Team
Re-energized by a hugely productive offseason, the vibes are at an all-time high at Fenway South. The Boston Red Sox are gearing up for 2025, and unlike prior seasons, there is a palpable energy in the clubhouse. Many believe that the sky is the limit for this Red Sox team.
Among them is Red Sox legend and 2004 World Series champion Pedro Martínez, who sees the Red Sox as a team bound for the postseason. Martínez proclaimed, “No ceiling for this team,” noting the talent added by the front office this winter, most notably in the starting rotation and middle infield.
Martínez is not wrong. As he noted, if the Red Sox remain healthy (something they have lacked in the past few seasons), they can compete with anyone in the league.
In addition to his high praise for the team, Martínez also spoke highly of the team’s new pitching acquisition, Walker Buehler, notably for his role in defeating the New York Yankees in last year’s World Series.
“I have been a fan of him, and him a fan of me…He’s gonna go to New York and they’re gonna remember that he was the one that shot them down. He’s gonna be intimidating, he’s gonna be booed, and he’s gonna be hated by the Yankees because of what he did. Same thing happened to me.”
Buehler is a significant factor for the Red Sox, especially because the team needs to have enough quality depth in its pitching rotation.
The former Los Angeles Dodger has had a rough go at things the past few years. Buehler only appeared in 12 games in 2022 before needing to be shut down for Tommy John surgery, an operation that saw him miss all of 2023.
Buehler returned to the field in the latter half of the 2024 season, pitching to a poor 5.38 ERA in 16 starts. However, after throwing the final out of the World Series, it appears as if Buehler has turned a corner.
Heading into a season fully healthy for the first time since 2022, he is primed to be a major contributor to the 2025 Red Sox, as when healthy, Buehler is as good as any starter in MLB.
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