Red Sox introduce new outfielder Masataka Yoshida

BOSTON -- Masataka Yoshida is officially a member of the Boston Red Sox. It was reported that the two sides had agreed to a deal last week, but Boston officially announced its five-year pact with the Japanese outfielder on Thursday.

A short time later, Yoshida was inside Fenway Park and donning a No. 7 Red Sox jersey for the first time. Though he doesn't speak English, he had a quick introduction prepared to lead off Thursday's introduction.

"Hi, I'm Masataka Yoshida. Nice to meet you," Yoshida said with a giant smile. "I'm honored to be in Red Sox Nation. I'll do my best. Thank you."

Yoshida comes to Boston after seven strong seasons with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball. The lefty slashed 327/.421/.539 with 161 doubles, seven triples, 133 homers and 467 RBIs during his career in Japan. He hit 21 homers last season when he helped the Buffaloes to a Japan Series title.

Yoshida went viral during the Japan Series after he blasted a walk-off homer for the Buffaloes in Game 5. The win evened the series at 2-2.

After winning a title in Japan last season, Yoshida said that he wants to now contribute to a World Series win with the Red Sox.

"We became the champion in Japan. Next season, I would like to contribute to your world championship for the Red Sox," he said through a translator Thursday.   

While he showed some pop in Japan, Yoshida is better known as an on-base machine. He had a .447 on-base percentage last year, and recorded more walks than strikeouts in each of the last four seasons, drawing 289 walks to just 160 strikeouts.

"We've watched Mastaka for a while, and for us the thing that really stood out from all angles was the quality of his at-bats," Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom said of the team's big free agent splash. "It's a unique combination of contact skills and strike-zone discipline that we feel has a chance tot really impact the game at the Major League level."

That makes Yoshida a prime candidate to bat leadoff for Boston, though Bloom said he could hit in a number of spots in the lineup. While he's never hit leadoff -- so he's not sure if he can do it -- Yoshida said he'll do whatever the Red Sox ask of him and give it his all.

Yoshida will primarily play left field in front of the famous Green Monster, which he said was "really tall" after seeing it in person for the first time on Thursday. Asked why he chose the Red Sox when other teams were interested, Yoshida said his decision to come to Boston was a simple one.

"The Red Sox organization is one of the best ones of the 30 teams, so that's why I chose it," he said.

Yoshida reached out to Daisuke Matsuzaka on Twitter for some advice about playing in Boston, and the former pitcher relayed some extremely important information.

"His advice to me was that Boston was really cold. So you have to bring your jacket," said Yoshida.

To make room for Yoshida on the 40-man roster, the Red Sox designated infielder Jeter Downs for assignment. Downs was part of the package that Boston received for Mookie Betts when he was traded to the L.A. Dodgers in 2020.