TAMPA, Fla. — Acknowledging what had become increasingly obvious, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora on Tuesday said Masataka Yoshida “most likely” will open the season on the injured list and return as an outfielder because designated hitter at-bats “are going to be limited,” a near acknowledgment that Rafael Devers will, in fact, be the team’s regular DH with Alex Bregman at third base.
“We see it, right?” Cora said.
It’s looked that way ever since Bregman arrived, and that impression has been reinforced by the fact Bregman’s remained at third base this spring without getting meaningful reps at second. Devers, who was always more of a hitter than a fielder, has no other positional home, leaving him as the obvious designated hitter. Yoshida, meanwhile, has had a solid spring — .321 average and .464 slugging percentage after hitting his first spring home run Tuesday — but he has yet to play the field as he continues to work back slowly from shoulder surgery. Yoshida’s been throwing at 100 feet, he hasn’t played the outfield in a game, and it’s unclear — even to Yoshida — when he’ll do so. A stint on the injured list would give him time to keep getting reps in Florida and eventually in Triple A before joining the Red Sox.
“I don’t know how soon or when he’s going to be ready,” Cora said, “but we have to be patient with that.”
Yoshida is entering the third year of a five-year, $90 million contract. He was primarily a left fielder in 2023, and he played the outfield in Japan.
“For me, I just have to get myself ready whether it is for DH or to play the outfield,” Yoshida said through an interpreter. “I just want to get myself ready for whatever the job calls for.”
The specifics of that eventual job remain unclear. The Red Sox seem headed for a regular outfield alignment of defensive standout Ceddanne Rafaela in center field with left-handed hitters Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu in the corners. Yoshida, who’s also a lefty hitter, could play left field on the days Duran is in center, but with everyone healthy, Cora is going to have to mix and match to keep everyone involved. Getting Yoshida at-bats, though, is a priority.
“He’s one of the best hitters that we have,” Cora said. “There’s a reason he had surgery. We talked about it, and he wanted to play the outfield, too. He wanted to contribute there. … I think he’ll be OK. The bat plays. That’s the most important thing.”
Watch it fly, Masa! ☄️ pic.twitter.com/rK3Ytv6mGa
— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 18, 2025
With Yoshida inevitably heading to the IL and Bregman all but entrenched at third base, the Red Sox have four remaining roster decisions.
1. Second base — Since this position isn’t going to Bregman, it will go to one — or two — of David Hamilton, Vaughn Grissom or prospect Kristian Campbell. Hamilton has hit the best of the bunch this spring and could be either a left-handed platoon (with Grissom) or a speedy utilityman (if Campbell wins the job). It seems unlikely the Red Sox could carry a prospect like Campbell (or outfielder Roman Anthony, for that matter) unless it’s in an everyday capacity.
2. Back of the rotation — Cora has already announced Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck and Walker Buehler will start the first three games of the season, but the last two spots in the rotation are up for grabs because of injuries to Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito and Kutter Crawford. Hard-throwing Richard Fitts has been a spring standout, which could make him a favorite for the fourth spot. The last job could go to Cooper Criswell or Quinn Priester (each of whom is on the 40-man roster) or to Sean Newcomb or Michael Fulmer (veterans in camp on minor-league deals). With Bello not far behind schedule, that fifth spot could be a temporary solution.
3. Middle-inning relief — Five bullpen spots seem set: Righties Liam Hendriks, Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten, plus lefties Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson. That leaves three spots up for grabs, with at least seven possibilities. Cora has said he’s willing to carry more than two left-handed relievers, putting lefties Brennan Bernardino and Matt Moore in the mix. Right-handers Greg Weissert, Zack Kelly, Josh Winckowski and Luis Guerrero are also familiar options who are already on the 40-man roster, and veteran Adam Ottavino is in camp on a minor-league deal. The team could also carry one of the rotation candidates as a long man.
4. Bench — Rob Refsnyder will be the team’s fourth outfielder playing regularly against lefties, but that’s the extent to which the Red Sox bench is set in stone. Utilityman Romy Gonzalez seemed locked in as the top backup at first base, but he is heading for an MRI on his sore oblique. Switch-hitting Nick Sogard (who played first base off the bench Tuesday) could fill Gonzalez’s role as a play-anywhere type. Hamilton (who played shortstop Tuesday) could be a utilityman if he’s not the regular second baseman. Grissom, too, could be in that mix, as could veterans Trayce Thompson (outfield), Nate Eaton (outfield) and Abraham Toro (infield), depending on what the Red Sox want out of that final roster spot. The backup catcher decision seems to be between Carlos Narvaez and Blake Sabol.
(Photo of Masataka Yoshida: Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Images)
