Masataka Yoshida Fantasy Stats

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida will start three of the team's next five games, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Cora feels comfortable putting Yoshida in left field when they begin a series in Houston against the Astros next week. However, Yoshida is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game in Cincinnati against the Reds and right-hander Brady Singer. Fantasy managers should expect Yoshida to make his first start of the 2026 season in Sunday's finale in Cincy. With Yoshida getting set to enter the starting nine soon, it will push one of Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, or Ceddanne Rafaela out of the lineup. The 32-year-old Japanese outfielder has seen his fantasy stock fall dramatically in 2026 after he played in just 55 games in 2025 due to a shoulder injury. Yoshida makes plenty of contact at the plate and has a .282 average through three seasons, but the power hasn't been there, and his less-than-stellar defensive work in the outfield leaves him more susceptible than ever to sitting on the bench in Boston.

MLB.com's Ian Browne writes that it is "hard to see" how Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida fits into the team's outfield rotation on a regular basis in 2026. Boston has five projected outfielders entering the regular season in Yoshida, Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu. Anthony, an emerging star in baseball, will play every day and will spend a lot of time in left field while also occasionally seeing time as the designated hitter and in right field when Abreu needs a day off. Duran will rotate between left, center, and DH. When Rafaela and Abreu play, they will always be in center and right field, respectively. It makes the 32-year-old Yoshida a trade candidate with a week to go until Opening Day. His fantasy value is way down after he hit only four home runs and drove in 26 while slashing .266/.307/.388 in just 55 games in 2025 due to injuries. Even if the contact-oriented Yoshida is healthy, he might not see enough at-bats in Beantown to warrant attention in mixed fantasy leagues.

According to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, the Boston Red Sox could still look to shop outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida ahead of spring training. Yoshida posted a .266/.307/.388 slash line with 11 doubles and four home runs across a 66-game stint with Boston last season. He generated a high .270 xBA and showed an elite eye at the plate, posting a low 11.7% K%. During his first two seasons in the majors, Yoshida held an overall .285/.343/.433 line with a .775 OPS. However, given Boston's crowded outfield and acquiring Willson Contreras in the offseason, the Boston lineup is quite crowded and will likely not offer Yoshida everyday at-bats. If he were to be moved, he could carry a sleeper appeal in a full-time role. If he were to open the season in Boston, he would be best left for deeper 15+ team formats as a late-round source of batting average.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida is serving as the designated hitter and will bat cleanup in the deciding Game 3 of the wild-card series on Thursday in the Bronx against the division-rival New York Yankees and right-hander Cam Schlittler. Yoshida did not start either of the first two games of this series, but he did come off the bench in Game 1 on Tuesday to deliver a big two-RBI hit late in the game in what ended up being a one-run victory. The 32-year-old Japanese native got a late start to the year in 2025 while recovering from an injury and was limited to a career-low 55 games. In those 55 games in the regular season, he hit .266 (50-for-188) with four home runs and 26 RBI for the BoSox. Masataka has never been a big power bat in his three years in the majors in the States, but he has hit .295 in his career against righties with 24 of his 29 home runs against them.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida is out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Chicago Cubs. Yoshida started in four of the last five games ahead of the All-Star break. He was hitless in the final two games ahead of the break and finds himself on the bench ahead of Friday's game. The expectation is that Yoshida is only going to play against right-handed pitching. However, he's not even going to start all those games as he takes a seat against right-hander Colin Rea on Friday. The Red Sox are going with the youth movement, so Yoshida is unlikely to see enough playing time to warrant rostering in most fantasy formats.

The Boston Red Sox reinstated outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list on Wednesday and optioned infielder/outfielder Nate Eaton to Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move. The team also transferred right-hander Nick Burdi (hip) from the 15-day to the 60-day IL. Yoshida is finally back with the big-league club and will make his 2025 debut on Wednesday, serving as the DH and batting sixth against the visiting Colorado Rockies and right-hander Antonio Senzatela. The 31-year-old is just now making his season debut after recovering from offseason right-shoulder surgery. The left-handed-hitting Japanese product has hit for a solid .285 average and .343 on-base percentage in his two seasons in Boston, but his power (25 homers) has left a lot to be desired. Yoshida might need to perform well in order to secure a regular lineup spot for the BoSox.

The Boston Red Sox will activate designated hitter/outfielder Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) during a homestand that runs through all of next week. Yoshida will play two rehab games at the Double-A level this weekend and then get Monday off, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. The Red Sox could activate him anytime after that. The 31-year-old underwent surgery on his right shoulder last October and has spent the past several months working back from it. Yoshida will mostly spend time at DH when he returns, but he'll also be part of Boston's outfield mix. The Japan native appeared in 108 games last year and hit .280/.349/.415 with 10 homers, 56 RBI, 45 runs scored, and two stolen bases over 421 plate appearances.

Boston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) will get "light work" at first base during his rehab assignment. However, he's unlikely to see game action at the position, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports. "I don't anticipate him starting at first base," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "but if something crazy happens, at least he can catch throws and knock down a ground ball." Yoshida, who has been out all season after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, embarked on a rehab assignment this week and should make his 2025 debut soon. He played almost exclusively at the DH position last year and hit .280/.349/.415 with 10 homers, 56 RBI, and 45 runs scored in 421 plate appearances.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Tuesday. This is good news as Yoshida has been sidelined all season due to offseason shoulder surgery. That being said, Yoshida is going to play quite a few rehab games before returning to the big league roster. The hope is that Yoshida will be able to return after the All-Star break. He exclusively served as the designated hitter last season, but could get some reps in the outfield. It's uncertain if he'll get regular playing time in Boston, so Yoshida isn't someone that needs to be rostered right now.

Boston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) could start a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday, according to the Boston Herald's Gabrielle Starr. The plan is for Yoshida to play the outfield at Triple-A Worcester. The 31-year-old Japanese outfielder has yet to play in 2025 after having right-shoulder surgery last October and served strictly as a DH for the team last year, so this could be a sign that the Red Sox are planning to trade Jarren Duran before the July 31 deadline this summer. Yoshida has made plenty of contact in his two big-league seasons in Boston, hitting .285 with a .343 on-base percentage, but his 25 home runs in 248 games has left a lot to be desired from fantasy managers. Still, Yoshida will be worth a pickup in at least deep-mixed leagues whenever he returns if he's playing regularly for the Red Sox.