Masataka Yoshida is expected to be in the lineup when the Boston Red Sox try to complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.
Before Boston¡¯s 10-2 triumph over Colorado on Tuesday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Yoshida will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list and in the lineup as the team¡¯s designated hitter Wednesday night.
Yoshida and Rob Refsnyder are expected to platoon in Boston¡¯s designated hitter spot, with Yoshida starting against right-handed pitchers.
¡°Mostly DH, but it¡¯s not like last year where he¡¯s not going to play the outfield,¡± Cora said. ¡°He¡¯s healthy, he is throwing the ball well and we¡¯ll use him for whatever we need that day.¡±
Yoshida, 31, has not played for Boston this season. He had offseason shoulder surgery and completed a five-game minor league rehab assignment Monday. He played the first two games with Triple-A Worcester and the next three games with Double-A Portland.
Yoshida¡¯s return creates a logjam in an outfield that includes Jarren Duran, Ceddane Rafaela, Roman Anthony, Rob Refsnyder and Wilyer Abreu.
¡°I know (Cora) has a plan, and I trust him full tilt,¡± Duran said. ¡°So whatever he needs me to do, I¡¯m going to do. ... He¡¯s a good manager and he¡¯s been doing it, and I trust him for whatever we need to do for the team.¡±
Boston will be looking to extend its winning streak to six games Wednesday. The Red Sox won Monday¡¯s game against Colorado 9-3.
Yoshida, a former standout with the Pacific League¡¯s Orix Buffaloes, has hit .285 with 25 home runs across 248 games in MLB.
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