Morning Sports Update

Masataka Yoshida said it’s an ‘honor’ to play for the Red Sox

The 29-year-old has been busy over the last six months, winning multiple championships.

By Hayden Bird

March 29, 2023

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The Celtics lost to the Wizards on Tuesday, 130-111. The Bruins also lost, falling 2-1 to the Predators.

Tomorrow, the Bruins will be home to face the Blue Jackets at 7 p.m. The Celtics will be on the road in Milwaukee to play the Bucks at 7:30 p.m.

Also on Thursday, the Red Sox begin the 2023 season at Fenway Park against the Orioles at 2:10 p.m.

Masataka Yoshida on the Red Sox: It’s been a whirlwind six months for Masataka Yoshida.

The 29-year-old outfielder helped Orix Buffaloes win the 2022 Japan Series in October, smashing a walk-off home run in Game 5. He then chose to pursue a career in Major League Baseball, opting to sign with the Red Sox in December on a five-year deal.

Having gone through most of spring training, Yoshida then joined his Japanese teammates for the World Baseball Classic. He helped Japan to victory in a thrilling tournament, setting a WBC record with 13 RBIs in the process.

Ahead of the Red Sox season opener (which gets underway against the Orioles at Fenway Park on Thursday at 2:10 p.m.), Yoshida spoke about what it means to play for Boston.

“It’s a real honor to play for the Boston Red Sox because they are a really traditional team, and a lot of times [have ended the season as] World Series champions,” Yoshida explained through translator Keiichiro Wakabayashi, according to MLB.com’s C.J. Haddad on Tuesday. “The only thing I’m focusing on is [trying] to play hard every day and contribute to the team winning.”

His recent performance in the WBC could be a boost for Yoshida. While it can be tough to get off to a good start with a new team, the veteran outfielder has already proven in 2023 that he can hit against quality pitching.

“[The WBC] was a really great experience,” said Yoshida. “I was really happy to represent my team.”

On Tuesday, he swatted a towering home run in the Red Sox spring training finale, seemingly a strong sign that he’s ready for the regular season.

“I’m always thinking about hitting a line drive to center field, so what I did was really good, I think,” Yoshida concluded.

In seven seasons at Japan’s highest level, Yoshida held a combined .327 average with 133 home runs and a .960 OPS.

Trivia: Only two players have hit home runs on the first pitch of the season in MLB history. One was a member of the Red Sox (the other was Ian Happ in 2018). Can you name the Red Sox player to do it?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: It happened in 1986 off of future Hall of Famer Jack Morris.

More from Boston.com:

• The Celtics are probably headed for the No. 2 seed: 5 takeaways after loss to Wizards
• Bruins-Predators takeaways: What we learned from Boston’s 2-1 loss
• If Lamar Jackson brings the Patriots back into the spotlight, it’s worth whatever it takes
• Patriots reportedly not expected to pursue Lamar Jackson
• Red Sox manager Alex Cora says he’s entering 2023 season with a ‘chip on his shoulder’
• Bruins, Predators honor Nashville school shooting victims with moment of silence, helmet decals
• Devin McCourty thinks the Patriots ‘have to’ check in about a potential Lamar Jackson trade
• Tedy Bruschi explained why he found Bill Belichick’s recent comments ‘surprising’
• Tom Brady reunited with his former Patriots teammates on the beach
• Fenway Park debuts new renovations to clubhouse, on-field facilities
• Red Sox play probable starters in final spring training game
• AP sources: Two groups formally submit bids for Commanders
• GMs for Packers, Jets discuss status of Aaron Rodgers trade talks

An update on a Boston Marathon contender: Eluid Kipchoge, world record holder in the marathon and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, is coming to run Boston in 2023 for the first time in his career. Here’s an update from the 38-year-old ahead of April 17.

Zero in the NFL: The league will now allow players to wear zero as their number. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley has already claimed it for the Jaguars.

On this day: In 1999, UConn won its first men’s national championship in basketball, upsetting favored Duke 77-74. Richard Hamilton led the Huskies with 27 points, topping a Blue Devils team that included Elton Brand, Shane Battier, and Corey Maggette.

Daily highlight: Rafael Santos Borre scored on a beautifully executed bicycle kick to help Colombia top Japan 2-1 in an international friendly on Tuesday.

Trivia answer: Dwight Evans