Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Logs two hits in MLB debut
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Yoshida went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored Thursday against the Orioles.
After dominating at the plate in both spring training and the World Baseball Classic, Yoshida was able to continue his hot streak at the plate Thursday. He's certain to get a lot of playing time in the Red Sox's outfield this season, but it is hard to judge how valuable he will become to fantasy owners beyond his ability to hit for average.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Returns to Grapefruit League
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Yoshida started in left field and went 0-for-2 with a walk in Friday's spring game against Atlanta.
Yoshida returned to Boston after starring in the World Baseball Classic for Japan. The outfielder went 9-for-22 with two home runs and a WBC-leading 13 RBI. On Friday, he slotted in at cleanup, where he's expected to hit when the regular season kicks off next week.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Homer helps Japan advance to final
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Yoshida slugged a home run, drew a walk and scored the winning run Monday in a 6-5 victory for Team Japan over Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic semifinals.
With Japan down 3-0, Yoshida smoked a homer to right field that tied the game. After drawing a walk in the ninth, he came around to score the winning run on a Munetaka Murakami double that also scored Shohei Ohtani to give Japan the victory. Yoshida is expected to hit cleanup for the Red Sox in his rookie year but first will square off against Team USA on Tuesday in the World Baseball Classic finale.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Expected to hit cleanup
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters that he expects Yoshida to hit cleanup to open the 2023 season, Mike Monaco of ESPN reports.
Cora believes that the Red Sox lineup will feature Rafael Devers hitting second, Justin Turner third and Yoshida in the cleanup spot. The outfielder was signed to a five-year, $90 million contract out of Japan in December, and Boston will give him a prime opportunity to hit square in the middle of the lineup. With those two names ahead of him -- particularly Devers -- Yoshida should see plenty of RBI chances in 2023 if he can remain in the fourth spot in the lineup.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Crushes homer in WBC
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Yoshida hit his first home run of the World Baseball Classic in Thursday's 9-3 win over Italy.
Yoshida also knocked in the go-ahead run for Japan on an RBI grounder and leads the WBC with 10 RBI. Overall, the biggest offseason addition to Boston's outfield is batting .400 (6-for-15) with a 1.189 OPS. When he returns from the competition, Yoshida is expected to serve as the Red Sox's starting left fielder and likely a middle-of-the-order bat.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Leadoff spot not likely
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Manager Alex Cora indicated Sunday that Yoshida won't bat leadoff and is more likely to hit in the middle of the order, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Yoshida signed a five-year, $90 million contract Boston in early December and was presumed to be a leadoff option against right-handed starting pitchers, but the club apparently has different plans. Red Sox manager Alex Cora has been adamant about separating left-handed hitters Yoshida and Rafael Devers, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Since Devers likes batting second, Cora appears to be happy to oblige the team's best hitter. Batting out of the middle of the lineup should still provide plenty of fantasy value for the 29-year-old Yoshida, who had a .335/.449/.559 slash line with 21 home runs in 121 games in Japan last year.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: In lineup Friday
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Yoshida will be in the lineup for Friday's exhibition game against Northeastern University, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Yoshida will be one of several regulars to take part in the Red Sox's traditional kickoff to spring action against the Huskies. Several members of the team will be leaving soon for the World Baseball Classic, so manager Alex Cora wants to give them at-bats before leaving camp. Of note, Yoshida will bat cleanup Friday, but he is expected to serve as Boston's leadoff hitter during the regular season.
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Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida: Expected to bat leadoff
Rotowire
Yoshida is likely to bat leadoff for the Red Sox, manager Alex Cora indicated to Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican Tuesday.
Cora noted that he planned to split up the left-handed hitting Yoshida and Rafael Devers in the batting order, which could put Devers in the three spot. The on-base skills Yoshida showed in Japan seemed to make him an ideal fit for the top of Boston's lineup, and it appears his manager agrees. It remains to be seen who might hit second in between the two lefties, but Enrique Hernandez is a candidate.
