MLB Power Rankings: Here come the Tigers
TORONTO - All of those questions regarding where Masa Yoshida will possibly end up in the Red Sox' lineup can be shelved for a while. According to Red Sox manager Alex Cora, the outfielder is going in the wrong direction when to resurfacing from the injury list and joining the big league club.
"There's a chance he flies to Boston," Cora said. "The throwing part of it didn't go too well this week. So when we get back he might be there. Brandon wants to see him and see where he's at with that, but this week it hasn't been good."
Yoshida, who has been recovering from labrum shoulder on his right shoulder, has been able to hit without hesitation, as his 35-at-bat spring training suggested. But the 31-year-old's ability to consistently throw from the outfield without discomfort continues to be a roadblock.
The issue will continue to prevent Yoshida from starting any sort of rehab assignment, which would start a clock necessitating the player join the Red Sox within 20 days.
Yoshida is the third year of a five-year, $90 million deal with the Red Sox. In his 248 games with the Sox, the lefty hitter has managed 25 home runs, a .285 batting average and .775 OPS.