The Boston Red Sox picked up a much needed victory on Monday night, outlasting the New York Mets 3-1 in what was a breath of fresh air for the Boston pitching staff. Allowing one run against a lineup that poses three of the best hitters in baseball could steer the Red Sox in the right direction as May concludes.
Sitting at 24-25 and outside of the final AL wild card spot, the Red Sox need to start stringing some series wins together to get back on track. They will be getting Walker Buehler back from an IL stint to start Tuesday's game, and could see one of their top prospects called up after Kristian Campbell has been seen practicing at first base.
As this 2025 season has consisted of its highs and lows for the Red Sox and their fans, it's still only May, and there is plenty of time to right the ship. Two of the top 10 MLB prospects are in the Red Sox farm system, and could be deployed any day now, providing a whole new outlook to this Boston lineup.
With a crowded outfield and the designated hitter spot now taken over by Rafael Devers, the future may be bleak in Boston for this lefty hitter who has spent the early part of the season rehabbing a shoulder injury.
Where Has Masataka Yoshida Been?
Yoshida, 31, was given a 5-year, $90 million contract by the Red Sox in 2023 after impressing with the Orix Buffaloes of the Japan Pacific League. His seven seasons in the JPL would lead to 131 home runs, 474 RBIs and a stellar .326/.419/.538 slash line, giving Red Sox fans confidence that he would be able to rake for their team.
After seeing the performances of players like Shohei Ohtani and Seiya Suzuki in the Japan league, the Red Sox liked what they saw from Yoshida and inked him to a contract worth $18.6 million annually.
Over two seasons with the Red Sox, Yoshida has 25 HR, 128 RBIs and a .285/.343/.433 slash line as a designated hitter and left fielder. While one who doesn't hit for a ton of power, Yoshida is a valuable player in the lineup due to his ability to put the bat on the ball and low strikeout numbers.
The problem comes with Yoshida's ability to stay on the diamond. Year one in Boston saw Yoshida play 140 games, and last year he only played 108. This season, he has yet to play a game after dealing with setbacks from a shoulder injury, and his path to at-bats on this Red Sox roster becomes harder and harder by the day.
As fans may know, Boston has put out a combination of Duran-Rafaela-Abreu-Refsnyder into the outfield this season. They also have their top prospect, Roman Anthony, waiting in the wings and is expected to be called up soon, if not at some point down the line this season.
The other position that Yoshida has occupied during his tenure is designated hitter, which is now taken over by Rafael Devers after his refusal to play first base for the team. That leaves Boston fans wondering, where does he slot in?
The answer may not come for a couple more weeks, as it was reported by Alex Cora that Yoshida is not even throwing yet, but has taken swings off a tee as he ramps up his recovery.
"It was major surgery. It was. We haven’t rushed him through the process. We’ve been very patient and we will stay patient with him. He wants to play. We got to get him going throwing-wise. It’s been a challenge. It’s not lack of effort, it’s not lack of resources. I think our guys have done an amazing job. It just hasn’t happened yet."Alex Cora On Masataka Yoshida
When Yoshida shows progress in throwing and returns from the injured list, there isn't a clear path to everyday at bats for the 31-year-old.
Jarren Duran is the team's leadoff hitter and is finding his swing again after a slow start. Wilyer Abreu crushes right handed pitching as has already belted 11 home runs, and Cedanne Rafaela is locked into an extension for the foreseeable future, providing the Red Sox with web gems in center field on a nightly basis.
Not to mention Roman Anthony, who could be one of the best players in the MLB over the next decade when he arrives in Boston.
Surely the Red Sox don't want to pay a bench bat nearly $19 million annually over the next three seasons, but with the future promise of the Red Sox outfield, paired with Rafael Devers designated hitting for the team now, it seems likely that could be the case.
That leaves Craig Breslow and Red Sox brass with two options. One would be to ride it out and see what Yoshida can offer when returning from injury, or they could look to move on via trade.
On Boston's roster now, Jarren Duran is 28, Abreu is 25, Rafaela is 24, and Anthony is 21. They have found their outfield of the future, and it's easy to assume that Yoshida won't be a part of the team long because of this.
As Yoshida should be able to return before the trade deadline, he will be a name to watch if the Red Sox make a move for starting pitching or bullpen help. Getting him back playing and giving him at-bats should be the team's priority first.
For now, the Red Sox are set to continue their series with the Mets at Fenway Park as the team tries to climb back above .500.