Red Sox Injury Updates: Latest On Masataka Yoshida, Tanner Houck, More

While you were sleeping with the Red Sox on the West Coast, manager Alex Cora provided an update on injured outfielder Masataka Yoshida.

“There’s a good chance he’ll go on a rehab assignment next week,” said Cora, according to Masslive.com’s Sean McAdam. “We’re going to push him a little harder with the throwing (this week), training-wise and all that stuff, see how he responds. We believe he’s over the hump already, but now it’s push him with a little more work, more throws and all that stuff – back to back days – and see how he reacts.”

McAdam reports Yoshida has been working out in Boston as he recovers from right shoulder surgery. The Red Sox shut down Yoshida during spring training when he experienced problems throwing.

With Rafael Devers gone following that blockbuster trade with the San Francisco Giants, Yoshida figures to slot into the lineup at designated hitter upon his return. But first, the 31-year-old needs to knock off the rust so a rehab stint is in his near future.

“I’ll sit down with him and see how he feels with the at-bats, and his swing and we’ll decide that based on him,” said Cora, per McAdam,

Yoshida is one of several Red Sox on the comeback trail. Pitcher Tanner Houck is expected to return “around July 4,” according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. Same goes for Hunter Dobbins, with Cotillo reporting the right-hander could return “around that July 4 date too, barring any setbacks.”

Dobbins is on the injured list with a right-elbow strain, which was diagnosed following a drop in velocity June 20. Dobbins expects to throw a bullpen session in “a couple of days,” according to MLB.com.

Houck is recovering from a strained right arm which sent him to the injured list last month. He’s lined up to make his second rehab start on Wednesday. In his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Worcester on June 18, he gave up one run on two hits in one inning.

Jordan Hicks, who has been on the 15-day injured list since coming over in the Devers trade with right toe inflammation, made a rehab outing in Worcester on Sunday — and struggled. In 2/3 of an inning, Hicks allowed three hits, two earned runs, a walk, with one strikeout on 23 pitches. Cora said it’s possible the right-hander makes his Red Sox debut this weekend when Boston returns home following its three-city, nine-game road trip.

Kyle Harrison, also acquired in the Devers deal, is starting his Red Sox career with Triple-A Worcester, but doesn’t figure to be there for long. The 23-year-old left-hander, who’s already thrown a bullpen session, is expected to make his organizational debut on Thursday against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, according to Cotillo.