Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida named GQ Japan ‘Best Baseball Player’ for 2023
Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida agreed to a five-year, $90 million deal last offseason and had a successful debut season in the big leagues.
Now the Japanese star has been named GQ Japan’s “Best Baseball Player” for 2023.
“In WBC, he contributed to the championship by recording 13 new RBIs in the tournament, such as hitting 3 runs in the semifinals. In the major league that participated from this season, he signed a contract with the Red Sox for 5 years and $90 million, the highest amount in the history of Japanese fielders. He achieved a good batting average of .289, 15 home runs, 72 RBIs, and OPS.783. The "Best Baseball Player Award" will be awarded to the full-swing samurai warrior,” wrote GQ Japan.
The 30-year-old takes home this honor after falling short in the American Rookie of the Year voting. Orioles star Gunnar Henderson won the honors while Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas finished third in the voting.
Yoshida received three third-place votes and finished sixth overall in the voting.
With the 2023 season in the books, Yoshida is focusing on next season and looking to better and will put in the necessary work to be the best baseball player he can be on the field.
“I’m going to work hard in the off season so that next season I’ll come back stronger and deliver the results that the Red Sox fans can be proud of,” Yoshida wrote on his Instagram. “Thank you and I’m looking forward to seeing you again next spring!”
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