In what has been an endlessly frustrating season for the Boston Red Sox — be it due to injuries, underperforming stars, or organizational drama — Masataka Yoshida has flown safely under the radar from all kinds of cheers and jeers. On the surface, that makes plenty of sense; his 100 wRC+ is perfectly average, and his 0.0 fWAR is indicative of someone who isn't hurting or helping the team's cause this year.
There was a point earlier in the year when Yoshida literally couldn't buy a hit despite promising underlying metrics, but the balls have started falling for the 32-year-old designated hitter... even if one would think that the .284 BABIP he's earned thus far is a little stingy. But that's actually a sticking point in his profile in 2026. Is he really deserving of better luck? Depending which era of baseball you subscribe to, the answer to that will vary.
Now just shy of 100 plate appearances, Yoshida's overall stat line is boosted by a huge walk rate. In fact, he's fanned three fewer times than he's walked, hence how someone who has yet to barrel a ball this year is working with a .356 on-base percentage.
Of course, that entire statement should give you pause. Yes, he literally has not barreled a ball all year. Even Caleb Durbin and Isiah Kiner-Falefa at least have one to their name. And that's not the company you want to be keeping on this Red Sox roster.
Red Sox DH Masataka Yoshida can barely hit, but at least he can walk
That's how we arrive at Yoshida's breathtakingly old-school approach. He is among the league's best at not striking out, making contact, and refusing to chase balls outside the strike zone. His patience, plate discipline, and eye have been his carrying tools to a severe degree.
And it's a good thing they have been, because he's otherwise been terrible at the plate. Besides his inability to barrel up a ball, his exit velocity numbers and hard-hit rate are both far below league average. His contact quality has been so poor that even his paltry .337 slugging percentage is actually the result of good luck (he owns a .301 expected slug).
Despite another scintillating performance in the World Baseball Classic, he finds himself in a part-time role with the Red Sox, rarely playing the field or hitting against southpaws. Both are weaknesses in his game that good teams can hide, but it's not as though he's being thoroughly outplayed by Jarren Duran (100 wRC+) or Roman Anthony (.675 OPS prior to injury).
His lack of playing time stems from his utter inability to make any sort of impact in the batter's box when he can't take a free pass to first base. On another team with more potent power threats and better middle-of-the-lineup production, his on-base skills would be a valuable asset. On the 2026 Red Sox, he's just another runner to leave on base.
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