If there's any Boston Red Sox player fans could be certain would put on a show in the World Baseball Classic, it's Masataka Yoshida.
The outfielder picked up where he left off after his RBI-record-breaking 2023 tournament showing. He's logged six hits, including two home runs and a double, six RBI and four runs over four games for Team Japan, good for a 1.655 OPS.
Yoshida hasn't made much noise in the big leagues over the three seasons since the last WBC, as a few severe injuries have limited his playing time. Fans around the league may not know what he's capable of, but Red Sox fans know his ceiling when he's healthy, and his manager, Alex Cora, isn't shocked to see him meet it.
“I don’t know why people are so surprised that he’s hitting,” Cora said to Sean McAdam of MassLive. “When he was healthy in ‘23, the first half of the season, he was one of the best hitters in the big leagues."
Alex Cora's Masataka Yoshida comments feel empty as his fit on Red Sox roster remains uncertain
Absolute Masa Magic! pic.twitter.com/8UhFsIwGCx
— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 8, 2026
Yet, the compliment feels hollow for Red Sox fans who know the team is in a roster predicament with the 2026 season just weeks away. Boston has four starting outfielders in Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran (both of whom are also posting excellent showings in the tournament), Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafeala and just one designated hitter spot in the lineup. Many Sox fans expected the team to trade one of their outfielders over the offseason, and Yoshida was included in that mix, albeit as part of a larger trade or salary dump.
Cora has called Yoshida one of Boston's best hitters a few times this offseason, but the team has made little effort to accommodate him in the lineup. Anthony and Duran are both talented players who need everyday reps to ensure the Red Sox are the best team they can be, but Yoshida is also a model of consistency when it comes to making contact and not striking out. Anthony and Duran are more well-rouded, with quality defense and power potential among their skills, which could be the downfall of Yoshida on the Red Sox.
Yoshida has a dedicated group of fans who firmly believe he belongs in the Red Sox lineup (especially at his contract price). He's been listed as a bench player on multiple Opening Day roster predictions, but his WBC performance may have been enough to increase his trade value in other teams' eyes. If he's dealt before Opening Day, Cora's comments will feel even more hollow.