Yoshida Masataka (30, Boston Red Sox), who entered the major leagues as the best Japanese fielder ever, pulled out a long hit from the first at-bat in the demonstration game.
On the 27th (Korean time), in an exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Rays held in Fort Myers, Florida, USA, Yoshida started as the 4th hitter and left fielder and recorded 1 hit, 1 run and 1 strikeout in 2 at-bats.
Yoshida, who came out as the lead batter in the second inning, pulled out a huge double from opposing pitcher Braden Bristow that hit the middle right fence and showed off a splendid ceremony.
He then scored his first goal as he homered on Alex Verdugo’s timely hit.
In the second at-bat, he also left a case of violating the ‘pitch clock’ introduced from this season.
In order to speed up the game, the major leagues require pitchers to start pitching within 15 seconds when there is no runner, and within 20 seconds when there is a runner. The hitter must also go to bat until eight seconds remain on the ‘pitch clock’, but Yoshida violated this.
At the ball count of 0-1, he was declared an automatic strike for violating the ‘pitch clock’ and withdrew with a looking strikeout on the third pitch.토토사이트
Yoshida ended the game by replacing the big defense in the defense in the top of the 6th inning.
Yoshida, who recorded a batting average of 0.327, 133 home runs, 467 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.960 in 7 seasons with Orix Buffaloes in the Japanese professional baseball, advanced to the big leagues with Boston at the end of last year on the condition of 5 years and 90 million dollars. It is the best treatment for a Japanese beast ever, surpassing the condition (5 years, 85 million dollars) signed by Seiya Suzuki with the Chicago Cubs a year earlier.
Yoshida is scheduled to join the Japanese national team for the 5th World Baseball Classic (WBC) to be held next month.
Meanwhile, the game was won 7-6 thanks to Ryan Fitzgerald’s timely walk-off in the 9th inning when Boston faced it 6-6.