Olympic and Premier12 champion Masataka Yoshida lands in the MLB
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<p>The Boston Red Sox secured Masataka Yoshida for the next five seasons with a massive $90 million contract, the second biggest free agent deal for a Japanese player. The record still belongs to <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/japans-npb-star2008-olympian-agrees-to-record-international-transfer-to-uss-mlbnippon-professional-baseballs-npb-masahiro-tanaka-has-agreed-to-an-international-player-tra"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Masahiro Tanaka</span></strong></a>, who signed a $155 million deal with the Yankees in 2014.</p>
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<p>Yoshida is a common name on the international stage after being part of the Samurai Japan squad that won the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2019-premier12/home"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Premier12 2019</span></strong></a> edition. Also, the outfielder is a gold medal winner with Japan at the <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2021-baseball-olympic-games/home"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games</span></strong></a>.</p>
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<p>The 29-year-old star signed the contract less than 24 hours after his club in Japan, the Orix Buffaloes, posted him officially. Yoshida had 45 days to find an MLB team.</p>
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<p>Yoshida is a huge NPB star who had in 2022 a career season. Besides leading the Buffaloes to their first win in a Japan Series since 1996, Yoshida led the league on .OBP, finishing second in batting average and third in the hits category.</p>
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<p>The Samurai Japan star is projected to be the regular left fielder and first-spot batter for the Red Sox. Boston surely expects a great performance from Yoshida after seeing the All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts depart on the free-agency market.</p>
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<p>Yoshida joins the Japanese superstars contingent at The Majors lead by Shohei Ohtani with Seiya Suzuki as the last member before the former Orix superstar.</p>
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