Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida appears to be one of the most consistent Japanese players to take his talents to the United States in recent memory.
The Red Sox signed him to a five-year deal after paying a posting fee to his NPB team, hoping to find a solution for the top of the order.
So far in the first five days of baseball, they can say Yoshida has been as good as advertised.
“Masataka Yoshida through his first 4 big league games: 20 PA – 17 AB, .294/.400/.471/.871; 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1/2 K/BB, 78th Percentile, Max EV, 134 wRC+. Exactly what the Red Sox were hoping to see,” Red Sox insider Tyler Milliken tweeted.
Masataka Yoshida through his first 4 big league games:
20 PA – 17 AB
.294/.400/.471/.871
1 HR
5 RBI
1/2 K/BB
78th Percentile Max EV
134 wRC+Exactly what the Red Sox were hoping to see.pic.twitter.com/LvZY24jWmW
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) April 4, 2023
Nobody expected Yoshida to be a 40-homer hitter.
However, people did expect him to be a tough strikeout; and he has (only one K in four games).
They expected him to be a tough out; and he has (.400 OBP is elite), and they praised him as a contact hitter capable of hitting close to .300.
Guess what?
He has, with that .294 batting average.
By wRC+ (134), Yoshida has been 34 percent better than the league-average hitter.
They needed to replace Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez’s production, and though Yoshida is not a natural power hitter, his excellent barrel control will also give him a lot of home runs.
If Yoshida keeps playing like this, you can expect an OBP around .375, 15-20 homers, lots of hits and doubles.
He is a dynamic performer that every team in the world would love to have.
He has been one of the best players on the Red Sox’s roster.
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