Help is on the way for the Red Sox. It’s just a matter of when.
A pair of players on the injured list are making progress and could find themselves back on the field in the not-so-distant future.
Masataka Yoshida: He is expected to start a minor league rehab stint “soon,” according to the Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham.
Yoshida is working his way back from surgery to repair his right shoulder and has yet to make his season debut. On Tuesday, WEEI’s Rob Bradford reported “Yoshida said (he) had cortisone shot a couple of weeks ago and is now throwing out to 105 feet. Feels a lot better. Said realistic goal is to be able go on rehab assignment later this month or early next month.”
Durability has been a problem for the 31-year-old Yoshida, who played in just 108 games last season, primarily as the designated hitter.
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Wilyer Abreu: He landed on the injured list Monday, prompting the Red Sox to call up top prospect Roman Anthony. Abreu said his left oblique strain is making progress and he hopes to take some swings on Friday, according to Abraham.
The 25-year-old Abreu is second on the Red Sox and tied for 11th in the American League with 13 home runs this season. He’s just two away from his career high of 15, which he set last year.
Kutter Crawford: The news isn’t as encouraging, according to Abraham, who reports the right-hander’s rehab assignment is being delayed by a sore wrist. Manager Alex Cora said Wednesday Crawford “doesn’t feel great,” according to Masslive.com’s Christopher Smith.
Crawford had been hoping to throw a bullpen, but is just “playing catch” right now, per Smith. While the wrist currently is the main problem, Crawford started the season on the injured list because of a sore right knee, which dates back to last year.
