Masataka Yoshida
30-Year-Old
Day-To-Day
Injury Hand
2024 Stats
AVG
.275
HR
2
RBI
11
R
12
SB
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Yoshida's first season in MLB came mostly as advertised. His exceptional contact rate carried over, but the rest of his game is still a work in progress. Yoshida recorded ample homers and steals to have reasonable hopes he improves in his second season. An area he can improve immediately is on-base skills. In Japan, Yoshida routinely posted double-digit walk rates, but he worked a free pass just 5.9% of the time in his rookie campaign. Only six of his 15 homers came at home, though 21 of his 33 doubles were in Fenway Park. This makes sense since Yoshida's flyball rate was just 26.9 percent. He swiped eight bases, but wasn't caught, suggesting he could run a little more. Yoshida's defense in left field was below par, which is an issue since his bat doesn't play as a full-time designated hitter. Still, Boston will continue to play Yoshida nearly every day, sitting him against some southpaws despite displaying limited platoon splits. He offers a strong batting average floor, with 20 homers and 15 stolen base upside. Read Past Outlooks
Suffers hand injury in win
Yoshida exited Sunday's 5-4 win over the Cubs in the sixth inning due to a left hand injury, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Yoshida jammed his left hand on a groundout in his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning, ultimately leaving the game after the top of the sixth inning. Considering the outfielder was able remain in the game as long as he did and even record a hit in his second at-bat, it's possible that the injury is minor. The team will determine if he needs X-rays during Monday's off day, and he can be considered day-to-day for the time being.
Yoshida jammed his left hand on a groundout in his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning, ultimately leaving the game after the top of the sixth inning. Considering the outfielder was able remain in the game as long as he did and even record a hit in his second at-bat, it's possible that the injury is minor. The team will determine if he needs X-rays during Monday's off day, and he can be considered day-to-day for the time being.
Batting Stats
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2024
2023
Minor League Game Log
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Batting Order Slot Breakdown
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
1
4
1
6
5
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
2
1
Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2022
+8%
OPS vs RHP
2024
+25%
OPS vs RHP
OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2022vs Left | .731 | 163 | 4 | 23 | .262 | ||||
Since 2022vs Right | .791 | 506 | 13 | 60 | .294 | ||||
2024vs Left | .616 | 19 | 1 | 4 | .176 | ||||
2024vs Right | .768 | 70 | 1 | 7 | .302 | ||||
2023vs Left | .746 | 144 | 3 | 19 | .273 | ||||
2023vs Right | .795 | 436 | 12 | 53 | .293 | ||||
2022vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
2022vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2022
+10%
OPS at Home
2024
+14%
OPS on Road
OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2022Home | .815 | 318 | 7 | 42 | .303 | ||||
Since 2022Away | .742 | 351 | 10 | 41 | .272 | ||||
2024Home | .685 | 40 | 1 | 6 | .282 | ||||
2024Away | .778 | 49 | 1 | 5 | .268 | ||||
2023Home | .834 | 278 | 6 | 36 | .306 | ||||
2023Away | .736 | 302 | 9 | 36 | .273 | ||||
2022Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
2022Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Stat Review
How does Masataka Yoshida compare to other hitters?
This section compares his stats with all batting seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 400 plate appearances)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
BB/K
0.55BB Rate
6.7%K Rate
12.4%BABIP
.299ISO
.113AVG
.275OBP
.348SLG
.388OPS
.736wOBA
.331Exit Velocity
88.2 mphHard Hit Rate
31.9%Barrels/PA
2.2%Expected BA
.257Expected SLG
.376Sprint Speed
22.6 ft/secGround Ball %
46.4%Line Drive %
21.7%Fly Ball %
31.9%Advanced Batting Stats
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Additional Stats
Games By Position
Defensive Stats
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Batted Ball Stats
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Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Role in flux
Red Sox manager Alex Cora reiterated that Yoshida is the club's everyday designated hitter, per Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican, but the 30-year-old's absence from the lineup Wednesday was his second straight and fifth in the previous seven games.
ANALYSIS
Yoshida's last two absences were due to Rafael Devers and Tyler O'Neill serving as the DH in their returns from injuries, but two catchers also received starts at DH during the aforementioned seven-game stretch. The Red Sox clearly don't want Yoshida manning the outfield as he's logged just one defensive inning this season, and when asked if he was disappointed about that Yoshida responded, "It's really difficult to describe how I feel," per Cotillo. On a team that's missing multiple key lineup pieces due to injuries -- and only just got back Devers and O'Neill -- Yoshida somehow appears to be the odd man out. The Japanese outfielder still publicly has a starting role and will likely be back as a lineup regular soon, but it doesn't appear to be a priority for Cora to keep Yoshida in the starting nine.
Yoshida's last two absences were due to Rafael Devers and Tyler O'Neill serving as the DH in their returns from injuries, but two catchers also received starts at DH during the aforementioned seven-game stretch. The Red Sox clearly don't want Yoshida manning the outfield as he's logged just one defensive inning this season, and when asked if he was disappointed about that Yoshida responded, "It's really difficult to describe how I feel," per Cotillo. On a team that's missing multiple key lineup pieces due to injuries -- and only just got back Devers and O'Neill -- Yoshida somehow appears to be the odd man out. The Japanese outfielder still publicly has a starting role and will likely be back as a lineup regular soon, but it doesn't appear to be a priority for Cora to keep Yoshida in the starting nine.
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Yoshida's appeal to the Red Sox, who signed him to a five-year, $90 million deal, likely centered around his ability to make contact. Across seven NPB seasons, the outfielder struck out just 9.4 percent of the time and hit .327. Those numbers were even better last year, when he rode an 8.1 K% to a .335/.447/.561 slash line and helped the Orix Buffaloes to a title. That contact ability should help him produce a solid or better average against MLB pitching, but whether he'll do enough else to live up to that free agent contract remains a question, as he offers very little with his glove and legs. His outstanding on-base ability could get him there, as he finished second among qualified NPB hitters in both strikeout rate and walk rate (15.7%) last season. He also has decent enough power, averaging 22 homers across the last five years, but it's possible he is more of a 10-to-15 homer guy against MLB pitching. His contract guarantees him significant playing time early on with Boston, but Yoshida is not a sure thing beyond his ability to hit for a high average.
More Fantasy News
Four hits in return to lineup
Yoshida went 4-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored in Saturday's victory over the Cubs.
ANALYSIS
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Back in starting lineup
Yoshida will start at designated hitter and bat sixth in Saturday's game against the Cubs, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Remains out of lineup
Yoshida is not in the lineup for Friday's contest against the Cubs.
ANALYSIS
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Absent from lineup again
Yoshida is out of the lineup for Thursday's game in Cleveland.
ANALYSIS
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Still viewed as everyday DH
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said prior to Wednesday's 8-0 win over the Guardians that Yoshida is still viewed as the team's primary designated hitter, despite being on the bench for two straight matchups with right-handed starting pitchers, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. "He's an everyday DH, man," Cora said of Yoshida. "I don't know what the big deal is. [Tyler] O'Neill had to DH [on Tuesday]. [Rafael Devers] had to DH [on Wednesday]."
ANALYSIS
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