Red Sox

Red Sox’ Masataka Yoshida underwent offseason surgery to fix issue with jaw

The Red Sox outfielder reportedly dealt with temporomandibular joint disorder over the last couple of years.

Masataka Yoshida is hoping to have a strong Year 2 with the Red Sox. Barry Chin/Globe Staff

February 25, 2024

Masataka Yoshida underwent surgery in the offseason to deal with an uncommon issue.

The Red Sox outfielder confirmed a report out of Japan that he had jaw surgery following the 2023 season as he reportedly dealt with temporomandibular joint disorder.

“You use your jaw to chew and to eat, so it was kind of constant with me,” Yoshida told reporters through an interpreter Sunday of the pain he experienced with his jaw.

“Less stress, obviously, could be positive,” Yoshida added.

Yoshida reportedly told Yahoo! Japan that he had been “suffering from headaches and stress in areas like my temporomandibular joints due to traveling” over the last two to three years. Yoshida added that his mouth would sometimes “tremble” and his jaw “would often come out of place.”

There was some speculation that Yoshida’s second-half struggles at the plate last season were, in part, because of the transition from Japan’s NPB to MLB. The MLB schedule is more grueling than NPB’s as MLB has more games and far more travel.

But it appears Yoshida’s temporomandibular joint disorder also played a hand in his second-half slump. The Red Sox outfielder added in his comments to Yahoo! Sports that stress made it more difficult to play and that it also affected his eating.

As Yoshida prepares for his second season with the Red Sox, he told Yahoo! Japan that there’s less of a “shaky” feeling and he doesn’t feel “ringing” anymore.

Yoshida got off to a promising start to his MLB career, hitting .316 with a .874 OPS, 10 homers, and 44 RBIs in the first half of the season. The second half of the season was a different story for Yoshida. The lefty hit .254 with a .663 OPS, adding five homers and 28 RBIs in the final two-plus months of the season.

In addition to improved conditions with his jaw, Yoshida appears to likely be settling into a new role in 2024. Alex Cora told reporters earlier in spring training that Yoshida will likely be the team’s primary designated hitter this season, moving him from his spot as an everyday left fielder in 2023.