The 2025 regular season was largely a forgettable one for Boston Red Sox DH/outfielder Masataka Yoshida. After missing the first half due to offseason shoulder surgery, he struggled to make an impact when he returned, batting just .266/.307/.388 (all career lows) with four homers, 26 RBI and 0.2 WAR in 55 games.
However, Yoshida finished the season on fire, slashing .383/.392/.574 with five extra-base hits, 10 RBI and seven multi-hit games over his final 12 contests, offering hope that he could play a big role for the Red Sox in the playoffs.
Sure enough, the 32-year-old Japanese star came through in his postseason debut on Tuesday, stroking the game-winning hit in Boston’s tense 3-1 win over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium.
While he wasn’t in the starting lineup with lefty Max Fried on the mound, Yoshida was the Red Sox’s first pinch-hitter off the bench, replacing Rob Refsnyder with one out, runners on second and third, and Boston trailing 1-0 in the top of the seventh.
Yoshida immediately delivered, lacing the first pitch he saw from Luke Weaver into center field for a go-ahead two-run single.
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Not only did Yoshida’s big hit spark the Red Sox to a 3-1 win and earn “Player of the Game” honors from his teammates, but it was also historic. According to OptaSTATS, he became the first player in MLB history to have a go-ahead hit with his team trailing on the first pitch he ever saw in his postseason career.
With another lefty on the mound for New York tonight (Carlos Rodon), Yoshida will likely start Game 2 on the bench as well. However, he proved in Game 1 that he’s ready to hit whenever the team needs him.
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Featured image via Paul Rutherford/Imagn Images
