Masataka Yoshida had surgical procedure to restore the labrum in his proper shoulder earlier this month, the Purple Sox introduced. The 31-year-old sat out the ultimate two video games of the common season as he contemplated tips on how to tackle the shoulder soreness that had bothered him for a lot of the yr. He underwent an MRI after the season, and evidently, the outcomes satisfied him and the Purple Sox that surgical procedure was the perfect plan of action.
The Purple Sox described the process as “profitable,” although it’s unclear what which means concerning Yoshida’s timeline to return. The same old restoration interval for place gamers who bear a labrum restore is someplace between 4 to 6 months. Reds infielder Matt McLain had labral restore surgical procedure this previous March and initially hoped to return in August earlier than struggling a setback. In the meantime, Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim had a labrum restore of his personal this offseason, and he’s hoping to return someday between mid-April and early Might. Kim’s anticipated timeline is barely longer than McLain’s, nevertheless it’s price noting that Kim’s harm was in his throwing shoulder whereas McLain’s was not. Yoshida’s harm can also be in his throwing shoulder, however as a delegated hitter and a left-handed batter, maybe his restoration timeline will likely be on the shorter finish of the spectrum. If his timeline is much like McLain’s unique purpose, he could possibly be able to return to recreation motion someday subsequent March.
The 2024 season was difficult for Yoshida by way of each his harm standing and taking part in time. There was reportedly stress all year long between Yoshida and the Purple Sox, each as a result of he sought outdoors opinions concerning a thumb harm in opposition to the workforce’s needs and since he was sad to be restricted to a platoon DH position when wholesome. Thus, between his harm troubles, defensive shortcomings, and poor efficiency in opposition to left-handed pitching, to not point out any behind-the-scenes stress, Yoshida’s tenure in Boston hasn’t gotten off to the strongest begin. It’s honest to surprise if a change of surroundings would do him some good, though his current surgical procedure and the $55.8MM remaining on his contract by 2027 might make a commerce troublesome to place collectively.
If Yoshida stays with the Purple Sox subsequent season, it’s arduous to think about his position altering all that a lot. Boston has two of the perfect defensive nook outfielders within the league, with Jarren Duran manning left area and Wilyer Abreu masking proper. Duran can play middle as effectively, however former high prospect Ceddanne Rafaela is way extra precious as an elite defensive middle fielder than a stopgap shortstop, and he wants common taking part in time if he’s going to enhance on the plate. On the offensive aspect of issues, Yoshida goes to want to slowly earn again taking part in time in opposition to left-handed pitchers; he put up a 103 wRC+ in opposition to lefties in 2023 however a dreadful 58 wRC+ in opposition to southpaws in 2024. Contemplating the Purple Sox will have already got not less than 4 lefty batters within the on a regular basis lineup subsequent yr – Rafael Devers, Triston Casas, Duran, and Abreu – it’s comprehensible why Cora would possibly want to sub out Yoshida for a right-handed bat at DH. Thus, if Yoshida needs to be an on a regular basis participant for the Purple Sox in 2025, he’ll must make a fast restoration over the offseason and are available to camp prepared to deal with his weaknesses on the plate and within the area.
