Masataka Ypshida went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, and an RBI for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic on Friday against Chinese Taipei.
Yoshida also played left field for the vast majority of the game. He’s a bit of a forgotten man in Boston because of their plethora of outfielders, but Yoshida is undoubtedly an above-average major league hitter. After being delayed due to a shoulder injury last year, he hit .266/.307/.388 in 205 plate appearances with four home runs and 26 RBI. Yoshida makes an elite level of contact, but he simply doesn’t have the power to be a great fit as a DH. If his defense could be just average in left field, he would be a solid starting option for many teams.