Masataka Yoshida comes to Boston with high expectations
Masataka Yoshida comes to Boston with high expectations
Hours after the Red Sox improved their bullpen, Chaim Bloom made his second big addition of the Winter Meetings. The Red Sox signed star Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida to a five-year deal $ 90 million contract on Wednesday. While it was a move that caught many by surprise, Yoshida brings an impressive resume to Boston.
In his seven seasons for Orix of Nippon Professional Baseball, Yoshida hit .327 with 161 doubles. In that span, he showed some power with 133 home runs, including a career-high 29 in 2019. He has an excellent sense of the strike zone, which could make the 29-year-old a candidate for the leadoff spot.
Additionally, during his time in Japan, one of Yoshida’s best qualities has been his patience at the plate. In 122 games in 2002, he walked 82 times and only struck out 42 times. As the Japanese native made pitchers work for every strike, he posted a career-high .571 on-base percentage. Staying true to that approach will be critical in the majors.
With Yoshida now on board, he will join an outfield that includes Alex Verdugo and Kiké Hernández. It is not a group that will be known for its power, but they all can get on base. If Yoshida can replicate his overseas success, he will quickly become a fan favorite.
While the newest Red Sox outfielder has a resume full of impressive statistics, there will be an adjustment period. Yoshida will be playing in a new league against players he has never faced. The expectations will also be high as his five-year deal is the second largest Chaim Bloom has given out during his tenure in Boston.
Although the Red Sox now have a huge hole to fill with the departure of Xander Bogaerts, Yoshida should help lengthen the lineup. He also can be relied on defensively, as in 40 games in the outfield in 2022, he did not commit an error.
As the Red Sox continue to add to their roster, the offense still has a few holes. In a competitive AL East, they will need more power than they already have. How Yoshida makes, the transition to a new league will be vital to their success. He has the potential to terrorize opponents from the top of the lineup in 2023 and beyond.
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Doubt he’ll be more than a 250 hitter in MLB .