The Boston Red Sox introduced Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida at a press conference Thursday after signing him to a reported five-year, $90 million contract.
The deal, as reported by MLB.com, is the biggest signed by a Japanese position player at the time of a move from Japan to the United States. That honor previously went to Seiya Suzuki's five-year, $85 million contract inked with the Chicago Cubs before the 2022 season.
The 29-year-old left-handed hitter will don the No. 7 jersey for the Red Sox, who believe he can help them return to the playoffs after finishing last in the American League East this year.
While Yoshida admittedly speaks limited English, he used it for his initial introduction before turning to an interpreter for the main portion of the press conference.
"I'm honored to be with Red Sox Nation," the former Orix Buffaloes star said. "I'll do my best."
Yoshida has been touted as a potential leadoff hitter in Boston after batting .335 with 21 home runs and 88 RBIs in 119 games for the Japan Series champion Buffaloes this year. He led the Pacific League with a .447 on-base percentage and struck out just 41 times.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said Yoshida's poise at the plate would enable him to succeed under the bright lights at Fenway Park.
"The way the swing works, the way that he sees the ball -- those things do tend to translate really well for whatever environment the player is in," Bloom said.
In a comment sure to warm the hearts of Red Sox fans still reeling from the recent departure of star shortstop Xander Bogaerts, Yoshida said the storied franchise had stood out as his preferred stateside destination.
"Obviously, the Red Sox organization is the best one of all 30 teams," Yoshida said. "So that's why I chose it."
Responding to speculation about batting leadoff, the two-time Pacific League batting champion said he was willing to hit "anywhere in the order."
"I don't have a lot of experience (leading off), but it won't be any different in terms of making strong contact, as I've done up until now in Japan," said Yoshida, who averaged .327 and had 133 home runs and 467 RBIs in seven seasons with Orix.
Yoshida, primarily a left fielder in Japan, could be in line to play the same position for Boston in the shadow of the Green Monster, Fenway's towering left-field wall.
The native of Fukui Prefecture said he felt a sense of history joining the Red Sox, who count several Japanese among their past players.
Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima contributed to the club's 2007 World Series victory, while Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa helped win it again in 2013. More recently, relief pitcher Hirokazu Sawamura spent the 2021 season and part of 2022 in Boston.
"When Japanese players were on the team, I often watched them on TV," said Yoshida, who also cited a pair of Dominican American former Red Sox superstars as inspirations. "Players like (Manny) Ramirez and (David) Ortiz attracted fans with their batting and had a huge impact. (Fenway) really has a sense of history."
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