FORT MYERS, Fla. – Fresh off another strong World Baseball Classic experience, Masataka Yoshida got right back into the mix for the Red Sox, serving as the leadoff hitter and DH for Tuesday’s game against the Braves.
The last time Yoshida participated in the Classic in 2023, he was an important part of the title-winning Team Japan squad, riding shotgun for tournament MVP Shohei Ohtani with 13 RBIs.
What ensued was a strong first season in MLB for the left-handed hitter, which included 33 doubles, 15 homers, 72 RBIs and a .783 OPS.
Could history repeat itself?
Might another strong Classic in which Yoshida played left field for Japan’s five games and slashed .375/.444/.813 with two homers and six RBIs propel him back to prominence with the Red Sox?
“I wanted to bring out my peak performance during the WBC,” said Yoshida. “And I think it just comes down to kind of maintaining that performance going into the season. The most important thing is that I'm healthy right now.”
People forget that, through July 25 of his rookie season with Boston, Yoshida was looking like a cornerstone piece of the lineup -- one who was batting .320 with an .887 OPS.
But then came the late-season dip, partly due to fatigue in making the adjustment from Japan to the United States, and partly from an injury to his right shoulder in Kansas City in August.
Yoshida played through the shoulder ailment all through ‘24 before having a labral repair once his second season was over. He didn’t play for the Sox until July 9 of the ‘25 season, and was clearly building his shoulder strength up while regaining his timing.
At last, health isn’t complicating things for Yoshida.
“The good thing about this is that we're getting the ‘23 version of the first half when he was healthy,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “He's hitting the ball hard. He was hitting lefties and righties. So I do believe we're getting that version.”
That version would only make life more complicated for Cora than it already is, in terms of dividing playing time.
In Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and Yoshida, the Sox have five outfielders for four lineup spots when you include the DH.
That complication, however, is something Cora plans on embracing.
In Spring Training, Cora hasn’t been able to do much maneuvering with his uniquely talented outfield quintet. All five participated in the Classic. Abreu (Venezuela) and Anthony (USA) will face off in the final Tuesday night (8 ET on FOX).
Within a couple of days, camp will be full again, and just in time for final preparations for the regular season, which starts on March 26 in Cincinnati.
“Just get the group together, see the lineup. Start looking for certain situations, how we're gonna deploy our guys,” said Cora. “That's the most important thing. Like I said before, it's not a problem. Whoever wants to say it's a problem, well, good for them. The manager says it’s not a problem. It’s a luxury, having good players, to have 13 position players that are solid, it’s always good. We’ll figure it out. We’re going to be good.”
Yoshida hesitates to make the direct comparison to three years ago because he knows the equation has changed. That season, he was Boston’s unquestioned starting left fielder, having just signed a five-year, $90-million contract to leave Nippon Professional Baseball.
With two years left on that contract, Yoshida would still like the chance to fully showcase the type of player he was in Japan.
“I’ve been able to do things without any restrictions,” Yoshida said. “So in that sense, I'm feeling pretty ready, but it's different, right? This year, it’s a different roster, different players and everything. So I got to see how I fit on the roster.”
Yoshida is limiting his focus to the controllables.
“Staying healthy and maintaining my condition are the things I look forward to doing,” said Yoshida.