Masataka Yoshida, the Red Sox’s primary DH and occasional outfielder, is staring down a “significant” hamstring strain, putting a massive question mark over his availability for the crucial stretch run and potentially even the postseason. This is a tough blow, coming right off his August 15th injury while running to second base. While the team hasn’t slammed the door entirely on a miraculous return for October, the current outlook doesn’t appear promising.
Injuries Hit Hard, But Crochet Stays Grounded
It’s never easy to lose a key bat like Yoshida, especially when the games matter most. But he’s not the only one fighting the clock. Pitcher Garrett Crochet is also pushing hard for a postseason comeback, though he’s learned to temper his expectations. He’s trying to practice “delayed gratification” after previous injuries sidelined him longer than anticipated. Crochet admitted, “I’m quite hopeful. I’m not gonna say [when], because I don’t know. The past couple times I’ve been like, ‘Oh yeah, I probably don’t even need to go on the IL and here I f***ing am, four months later. Right now, I’m trying to practice delayed gratification with myself. Unless I’m crossing the finish line, I’m not going to start celebrating.” That kind of honesty just tells you how mentally taxing these recoveries are.
Anthony’s Back, Rutschman’s Warming Up, and Mayer’s Missed
But hey, it’s not all doom and gloom on the injury front! There’s some real good news for the Red Sox lineup. Young star Roman Anthony is finally on rehab in AA Portland and is absolutely thrilled to be back on the field. “I was driving here today, and it just felt weird to finally be here,” Anthony said, clearly relieved. “It’s been a long, long process for me, and took a lot longer than I could have expected when I first did it. I’m happy that it’s all behind me, and I can just play baseball… You miss an extended period of time, and you realize how much you miss playing the game that you love to play so much. I landed yesterday, and it just [felt] like home.” It’s awesome to hear that passion. Anthony also had to say goodbye to his close friend and former roommate, Marcelo Mayer, who was traded. He was sad to see Mayer go but excited for his “new opportunity and almost like a refresh.”
And when Anthony does make his way back, he’ll find a new slugger making his presence felt: Adley Rutschman. After taking his time to acclimate and get back in form following his wrist injury, Rutschman showed what he’s truly capable of last night. He knows the drill coming off the IL. “I think whenever you’re coming off the IL, you just never know,” he commented. “Sometimes you feel good and then you go out there and the swings that you’re taking don’t work in the game as well. And sometimes you feel good and they do.” It’s great to see him finding his rhythm.
So, while Yoshida’s absence stings, the Red Sox have some promising returns and new firepower ready to step up. Getting Anthony back and seeing Rutschman contribute could be huge for this team’s push down the final stretch of the regular season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Over the Monster.
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