The Red Sox are expected to activate Masataka Yoshida this week for his long-awaited season debut.
“Most likely Wednesday,” manager Alex Cora said Monday afternoon.
Yoshida’s activation will mark his season debut after months of rehabbing following offseason shoulder surgery last fall. The 31-year-old left-fielder and designated hitter is in the third of a five-year, $90 million contract. Over 248 games between his first two Sox seasons, he hit .285 with a .775 OPS.
Alex Bregman may not be far behind.
The veteran third baseman is making a rapid recovery from the quad strain he suffered on May 23. So much so that the Red Sox have pumped the brakes at times.
“Realistically, sooner rather than later,” Cora said of Bregman. “He feels great. If it’s up to him, (he’d be back) yesterday.”
As to whether Bregman will be back by the time the Tampa Bay Rays arrive for four games starting Thursday, Cora was noncommittal.
“That’s a tough one,” the Sox skipper said. “Probably we want to see him doing a little bit more. He feels like he can go right now, so that’s why I’m saying let’s get together as a group and be smart about it and decide what we’re gonna do.”
As Bregman, who just earned his third career All-Star selection, raced toward return in recent weeks, his manager’s frequent refrain has been one of caution. Especially if the Red Sox opt to bypass a rehab assignment and have their star third baseman build volume in real games, instead, which is a real possibility.
“I think it’s about bouncing back and being smart,” Cora said. “We got a big series right now. If we do what we’re supposed to do, win the series, move on, it’s gonna be a big series over the weekend. But one or two games are not going to dictate the season, to be honest with you. So being smart is like the best thing we can do.”
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