Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida already has quite the feather in his cap even before he plays for Japan in the World Baseball Classic title game Tuesday night against the United States.
Yoshida, who was the prize signing of the Red Sox this offseason by signing a five-year deal worth a reported $90 million, has been on a tear at the plate, helping him make WBC history in the process.
With his clutch three-run home run in Monday’s semifinal win over Mexico, Yoshida has collected 13 RBIs in six games, which is the most runs ever driven in by a single player in the tournament’s existence.
It’s only the fifth incarnation of the WBC, which started in 2006, but given the amount of star power routinely featured in the tournament, it is an impressive feat by Yoshida.
The 29-year-old certainly has caught the attention of the Red Sox with his eye-popping play in the WBC. He’s slashing .474/.571/.842 as he has nine hits in 19 at-bats with two of those base knocks going for home runs. He also has yet to strikeout, further signaling his elite bat-to-ball skills, and has scored five runs.
Regardless of whether Japan walks away with their third WBC crown as they will go into the contest as the underdog, Yoshida will come out of the tournament as a winner due to how he has performed.
The high-level performances certainly will raise expectations for his first season in Boston, but if the WBC is any indication, Yoshida has shown he can handle playing in the spotlight.
