Alex Cora Gives Discouraging Update On Forgotten Red Sox Player

The Boston Red Sox hoped Masataka Yoshida would make progress with the throwing program he’s on after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery.

That’s not happening for Yoshida, though.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora issued a discouraging injury update on Yoshida prior to Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre and said there’s a chance he flies back to Boston from Fort Myers, where he has been rehabbing, to get checked out by the team’s medical staff.

“The throwing part of it didn’t go too well this week,” Cora told reporters, per MassLive’s Christopher Smith. “So when we get back, he might be there (in Boston).”

It’s unclear how far Yoshida progressed with the throwing program — he was throwing up to 100 feet a month ago — but Cora said over the weekend that the 31-year-old wasn’t close to a rehab assignment.

And then it feels like things got worse with head athletic trainer Brandon Henry wanting to see Yoshida.

“This week it hasn’t been great,” Cora said.

Yoshida did make 11 appearances during spring training, batting .286 with one home run and seven RBIs. But the Red Sox looked for him to play some outfield with Rafael Devers taking over as the team’s full-time designated hitter.

Yoshida can’t play the outfield, though, until his shoulder is back to full strength. Even when that does happen, it’s going to be tough to get him playing time with Boston’s outfield already crowded, and that’s not factoring in a potential call up for Roman Anthony, either.