Yoshida exits with left hamstring tightness after third-inning double

PITTSBURGH -- Just hours after Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy had his most positive injury update in weeks, revealing that three key players (Roman Anthony, Trevor Story and Isiah Kiner-Falefa) will all open Minor League rehab assignments within days, designated hitter Masataka Yoshida went down with what the Red Sox announced was left hamstring tightness.

While hustling for a double in the top of the third inning in Saturday night's 4-0 win over the Pirates at PNC Park, Yoshida appeared hobbled before he even got to the second-base bag, sort of falling rather than sliding.

He grabbed what looked like his left hamstring and signaled toward the dugout. Moments later, Yoshida limped off the field and was replaced by Anthony Seigler.

Of late, Yoshida has been Boston’s DH against righties while leading off in many of his starts.

While Yoshida has had his share of injuries since coming to the Red Sox from Japan at the start of the 2023 season, he had been healthy this season, though was scrapping for playing time earlier in the season.

But after at last carving out a structured role, Yoshida was on a roll. Entering Saturday’s contest, he had a batting line of .321/.377/.505 with four homers and 18 RBIs in his previous 33 games, 28 of them starts.