Masataka Yoshida has been a forgotten man. After two solid enough seasons slashing .285/.343/.433 and putting up 1.4 bWAR in each of 2023 and 2024, Yoshida came into Spring Training without a position.
The outfield, where Masa is limited to left, was full with Jarren Duran, Ceddanne “Nuf Cedd” Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu — with Roman Anthony lurking and Rob Refsnyder the fourth outfielder.
Plus Yoshida was coming off shoulder surgery. Would a repair let him retake the field, something he did just once in 2024? That was the plan.
Despite being able to hit in Spring Training he was not able to throw, famously a major duty of outfielders.