Masataka Yoshida hits little-league triple as fans eagerly await his MLB debut for the Boston Red Sox

Masataka Yoshida was one of the answers that the Boston Red Sox sought after the loss of Xander Bogaerts this past offseason. A .307 hitter last year, Bogaerts' 11-year deal with the San Diego Padres represents a massive loss to the offensive capabilities of the Red Sox.

Additionally, J.D. Martinez, who hit 43 home runs for the Red Sox in 2018 and made the AL All-Star team also departed the team for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Even with the likes of Bogaerts and Martinez in the lineup, the Boston Red Sox finished with a 78-84 record in 2022, which was enough for them to finish at the bottom of their division. Needless to say, the team needed to add some sparks to help cover some of the losses.

Yoshida is a 29-year-old outfielder who has made a name for himself in Nippon Pro Baseball (NPB), the top league in Japan. Yoshida is a 2-time league batting champ and a 4-time NPB All-Star. Through the 2022 season, he has 133 home runs and 467 RBIs to accompany a career batting average of .327. He signed a deal this offseason with the Boston Red Sox.

Yoshida will play alongside Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani on Japan's World Baseball Classic team this spring. The team has already started playing exhibition matches ahead of their March 10th tournament opener against South Korea.

"Can I interest you in a Masataka Yoshida bases loaded, bases-clearing standup triple?" - @ Ben Verlander

Taking to the plate against the Orix Buffaloes, his team of six seasons, Yoshida had the bases loaded in the second inning. On a full-count pitch, he hammered the ball to right field. An outfield mixup allowed Yoshida to reach third base standing, having driven in three runs.

Some fans, however, are not as impressed. Many have taken to Twitter to point out that Masataka Yoshida only reached third base in a defensive mishap, and that a similar hit in the MLB would likely just be a fly-out.

Although incorrect, other fans have claimed that the home of the Buffaloes, Kyocera Dome Osaka, is larger than MLB outfields. In reality, the Kyocera Dome's left field wall is about five feet shallower than Yankee Stadium. The New York Yankees' home field is widely considered as the most hitter-friendly field in the MLB.

Masataka Yoshida has big shoes to fill for the Boston Red Sox

Yoshida's 5-year, $90 million contract with the Red Sox has already raised a few eyebrows from onlookers. Some have pointed to Seiya Suzuki, who hit mid-300s in the NPB before signing with the Chicago Cubs. In 2022, Suzuki's first MLB season, his average dropped to .262. Although Yoshida has an impressive NPB CV, he will need to prove himself all over again to an MLB audience.