‘Such a superb hitter’: Masataka Yoshida is making his presence felt with the Purple Sox

Purple Sox

“I’m glad that we took an opportunity,” supervisor Alex Cora stated.

Masataka Yoshida is hitting .316 this season. Winslow Townson/Getty Pictures

Supervisor Alex Cora knew there have been some query marks surrounding Masataka Yoshida when the Purple Sox introduced him aboard.

His expertise was simple, nevertheless it remained to be seen whether or not his tendencies would translate to Main League Baseball. One unknown, as an example, was whether or not Yoshida might constantly hit excessive fastballs at this degree.

Cora credited his colleagues for scouting him effectively and believing in each the participant and the particular person.

“I’m glad that we took an opportunity,” Cora stated.

Yoshida has silenced the naysayers all season, and Sunday, he did so as soon as once more. He launched a 95-mile-per-hour fastball that was exterior the strike zone over the Inexperienced Monster within the eighth inning to pave the way in which for a 4-3 Purple Sox win over the Athletics at Fenway Park.

“That was superior,” Yoshida stated, by a translator. “I feel that’s the very best outcome I might have considered.”

He completed the day 2-for-4 with two runs and his tenth homer, recording a number of hits for the seventh consecutive recreation – the longest such streak in baseball this season. Yoshida is the primary Purple Sox rookie to succeed in that milestone since Johnny Pesky in 1942.

He additionally singled, stole a base, hustled to 3rd on a throwing error, and scored the tying run Sunday.

On the season, Yoshida is hitting .316, with 19 doubles, 44 RBIs, 27 walks, six steals, and a ten % strikeout price. The 29-year-old outfielder has had clutch moments like this one alongside the way in which, however his steadiness is what’s caught out essentially the most.

“Masa is simply such a superb hitter,” Cora stated.

He had a scorching Might, hitting .354, and has dominated in July with a .480 common. It understandably took a little bit of time to get located, however now that he has, he’s rising as one in all baseball’s most reliable hitters.

Yoshida stated he’s grateful to have stayed wholesome within the first half of the season. He’s wanting ahead to some household time over the All-Star break, then returning to select up the place the Purple Sox left off.

“The one factor I can do is put together effectively,” Yoshida stated. “That’s one in all my targets for the second half of the season.”