Watch: Masataka Yoshida hits first MLB home run
Yoshi blasts his first home run in the big leagues on Monday
On Monday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates, highly-touted Masataka Yoshida hit his first MLB home run.
The home run was a two-run shot that tied that game at three. Ultimately the Red Sox would lose to the Pirates, 7-6.
In 17 at-bats Yoshida has a batting average of .294 with a homer and five RBI. He also has one stolen base on the young season.
Watch: Yoshida two-run home run:
Yoshida is already showing he that he can live up to expectations placed on him with the Red Sox.
Outfielder Alex Verdugo sale highly about the Japanese star and his approach at the plate with his new team.
"Expectations were high on him, but this is somebody who's living up to it," said Verdugo to reporters after the game. "He did it in the WBC, he's doing it here. You see his quality ABs against really, really good arms and he doesn't look overpowered. He looks comfortable.
"And it's one of those things, too: He's seeing these guys for the first time. A lot of these are first at-bats, you're gaining information at that point, and I'm very confident with him that once he starts seeing guys a little bit extra, he's going to really start leaning on some stuff because he's already putting up good swings, good at bats. And that's the first time he's seen people."
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