No word yet on the results, but Yoshida was spotted throwing a football around at Fenway Park with the Red Sox training staff prior to Saturday’s game. The 31-year-old hasn’t been responding in the way the club hoped to ramping up his throwing program, so it doesn’t sound like he’s going to be an option at any point in the near future, even with Triston Casas (knee) facing an extended absence.

Cora added that Yoshida, who is working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery, might head back to Boston to undergo further evaluation since his throwing program is “not going well. He was expected to start playing in extended spring training games earlier this month, but hasn’t made enough progress with his throwing program for that to happen. The 31-year-old doesn’t have a path to at-bats in Boston unless he can get back into the club’s left field mix with Rafael Devers occupying the DH role. He’s in a bit of a holding pattern right now and it doesn’t seem like he’s close to making his season debut.

“He needs to make throws from the outfield. It’s not just standing there,” Cora said. “You have to make throws. So we’ll see how that goes.” Cora did acknowledge that Yoshida is throwing from 110 feet, so the progression is taking place, it’s just not ready for game action. It remains to be seen when Yoshida will get back into the Boston lineup.

Yoshida has been hitting in spring training, going .286/.286/.400 and one home run in 35 plate appearances; however, he is still not able to throw from the outfield. With Rafael Devers set to be the everyday designated hitter for Boston this season, the team needs Yoshida to play the outfield in order to be in the lineup. The most likely outcome is that the Red Sox will want to show Yoshida can play the outfield before trying to trade him so that they can keep giving at-bats to Wilyer Abreu and Roman Anthony.