Masataka Yoshida is a novel rookie.
When he makes his main league debut on Thursday afternoon, he’ll accomplish that as a gold medalist within the Olympics and World Baseball Classic.
And, as a rookie who’s by no means performed a minor league sport.
It’s not extraordinary; since MLB carried out the draft in 1965, 22 gamers have gone straight from the draft to the majors. Garrett Crochet is the latest case; he debuted with the Chicago White Sox in 2020, three months after they chose him eleventh general within the draft.
Yoshida’s case is totally different. He’s a rookie who spent seven seasons as one of many Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball league’s greatest hitters. A two-time Pacific League batting champion, he slashed .327/.421/.539 with 884 hits (301 for further bases) in 762 regular-season video games with the Orix Buffaloes, with gorgeous plate self-discipline; he drew 421 walks and solely struck out 300 occasions. Among his many achievements, he was an NPB All-Star and Pacific League Best Nine-winner 4 occasions every, a 2022 Japan Series champion, and the 2021 NPB Home Run Derby winner.
Still, Opening Day is a debut for the outfielder, and he’ll have the jersey to show it. While he’s not the one rookie on the 26-man roster, he’ll be the one one sporting the brand new “MLB Debut” patch on his jersey.
Made for the second. Starting #OpeningDay, each participant making their Major League debut will put on an “MLB Debut” patch on their uniform for his or her first sport! That patch will then be added to @Topps buying and selling playing cards, creating the final word rookie card. pic.twitter.com/Acs5dxZWRD
— MLB (@MLB) March 30, 2023
But it might be a historic event even with out the patch. Yoshida, who signed a five-year, $105.4 million contract in December, is the tenth Japanese-born participant in franchise historical past, however the first place participant to play for the crew on Opening Day. He and 2004 hero Dave Roberts are the one Japanese-born Red Sox place gamers.
Welcome to Boston, Masa.
Source: www.bostonherald.com