Boston Red Sox designated hitter Masataka Yoshida had a rough start to the 2024 season. Struggling on the field, he found himself on the injured list due to a thumb injury for most of May and part of June. However, Yoshida has turned things around in a big way, becoming a key player in the Red Sox lineup in recent weeks, earning praise from manager Alex Cora.
After Yoshida hit a home run against the Seattle Mariners, Cora commented, “That swing, I was like, ‘This guy, he was pretty good in Japan; he was good for us the first part of the season last year. If this continues, it should be fun.’”
Cora continued, “I think the swing is getting to the point that he’s hitting the ball hard all the time. He stayed with the breaking ball for the base hit. That was a great swing. You see it in BP now. The exit velocity … it’s like 100 (mph) all the time and the ball is carrying again. It has that backspin. So whatever he did mechanically, it’s helping. He’s healthy. That’s the most important thing.”
Yoshida has been on fire in his last 26 games, batting .340 with a .906 OPS, three home runs, and 21 RBIs. Cora’s assessment is accurate, as Yoshida has been a joy to watch and a potential game-changer for the Red Sox as they push for a playoff spot.