Red Sox announce Masataka Yoshida update after exit from game

The Boston Red Sox may have suffered a significant blow to their lineup Saturday after Masataka Yoshida exited the game with a left hamstring injury. The Red Sox will likely be making some changes to the MLB roster in the coming days. Yoshida appeared to hurt himself while running to second base on a double in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He immediately showed a noticeable limp and was removed from the game, with the Red Sox announcing that he was dealing with left hamstring tightness. MORE: MLB awards predictions for the 2026 season Yoshida has been swinging a hot bat Aug 14, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter Masataka Yoshida (7) flies out during the fish inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images The timing of the injury is particularly frustrating because Yoshida has been one of Boston’s more productive hitters recently. The 33-year-old entered Saturday batting .272 with five home runs and 28 RBIs, and he had been especially productive over the past month. Since July 5, Yoshida had hit .307 with three home runs, seven doubles, 17 RBIs and 15 runs in 30 games. He had also become a regular presence near the top of Boston’s lineup. Losing that production for any extended period would be a significant problem for a Red Sox team that has already dealt with its share of injuries this season. MORE: 4 MLB teams most likely to win the World Series, not including the Dodgers IL stint appears likely The exact severity of Yoshida’s hamstring strain remains unknown, but an injured-list stint appears increasingly likely. Yoshida reportedly pointed to a previous hamstring injury he suffered while playing in Japan, saying that injury cost him approximately one month. That’s obviously not the type of timeline Boston wants to hear. For now, the Red Sox will have to wait for further testing before knowing exactly how long Yoshida will be unavailable. But considering how important his bat has become over the past several weeks, even a short absence would be a tough one for Boston. The Red Sox can only hope this latest hamstring issue isn’t serious enough to keep Yoshida out for another month. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —