Red Sox expect Yoshida to be ready for Opening Day after shoulder surgery (source)

BOSTON -- The Red Sox announced on Wednesday that designated hitter Masataka Yoshida underwent a successful right shoulder labral repair on Oct. 3. The procedure, deemed successful, was performed by Dr. Evan O’Donnell at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Though no further details were made available in the team’s press release, a source told MLB.com that the Red Sox are aiming for the left-handed hitter to be ready by Opening Day, which is set for March 27 at Texas.

In his second Major League season, Yoshida battled through not only discomfort in his right shoulder but also a left thumb strain that kept him out of action from April 29 through June 10.

Yoshida played in 108 games and had 421 plate appearances, slashing .280/.349/.415 with 10 homers and 56 RBIs.

After playing 87 games in left field in his rookie season, Yoshida played just one inning in the outfield in ’24.

It is unclear if Yoshida’s health had anything to do with him not playing the outfield this past season, or if that had more to do with Boston having a young and athletic outfield led by Gold Glove Award finalists Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu. Ceddanne Rafaela was also an elite defender in center field, but he split time between there and the infield.

Staying at designated hitter, at least at the beginning, should allow Yoshida a better chance to reach his goal of being ready to go by Opening Day.