TOR, going 0-for-2…also started Game 3 of the ALDS at NYY and Game 4 of the ALCS at HOU.
125 (2-for-16) in 8 games (3 starts)…made his postseason debut in a Game 1 start in the Wild Card Series vs. TOR, homered off Hyun Jin Ryu in the 5th inning, his first career hit… became the sixth Japanese-born player to homer in his major league debut, joining LAD Kenta Maeda in 2016, CHC Kosuke Fukudome in 2008, SEA Kenji Johjima in 2006, NYM Kazuo Matsui in 2004 and STL Keith McDonald in 2000…he was the first Japanese-born player to homer on Opening Day since MIL Nori Aoki in 2013 and first in the AL since NYY Hideki Matsui in 2010.Was the 24th player to homer in his Rays debut, first since Willy Adames in 2018…became the sixth Ray to homer in his major league debut, joining Adames, Brandon Guyer in 2011, Elijah Dukes in 2007, Delmon Young in 2006 and Brent Abernathy in 2001.On Aug 1 at BAL, flied into a double play to lead off the 10th inning-the first leadoff double play in MLB history, according to Elias Sports Bureau. against lefties (.243) than righties (.183), but 35 of his 42 starts came vs. 25 for seven of his 10 seasons in NPB…the number was bestowed to him by former teammate and fellow NPB star Shuichi Murata…the gesture is seen as a great honor.He was named Yokohama’s youngest team captain in franchise history in 2015.He has a fraternal twin sister who he says “looks nothing like me”…her talents favor tennis.Yoshi picked up “some broken Spanish” during his time playing for the Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League…he says it is his hidden talent.Īppeared in 51 games and made 42 starts (19-DH,12-LF, 11-3B) in his first major league season…led the team and ranked 2nd among major league rookies with 26 BB behind SEA Kyle Lewis (34)…tied for 3rd among rookies with 27 runs and tied for 4th with 8 HR.Hit leadoff seven times, all in his last 10 games.Had a higher avg.
Six Rays staffers, including Kevin Cash and Erik Neander, slipped away from the Winter Meetings in San Diego in 2019 to drive to Los Angeles and meet with Yoshi in person following an introductory phone call…the Rays presented a 20-page information guide on the team and Tampa Bay area in an effort to elevate his interest in signing…the group met at a facility owned by Nolan Arenado, who shared the same agent.Yoshi became the fourth Japanese-born player in Rays history, following Hideo Nomo (2005), Akinori Iwamura (2007-09) and Hideki Matsui (2012)…Iwamura is the only other Japanese-born player to begin his major league career with the Rays-he signed a three-year contract after playing with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.Yoshi spent 10 seasons with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball Organization…following his signing with the Rays, Yokohama shared a 2-minute, 25-second farewell video on social media saying, “a samurai from Yokohama is making the move to Tampa Bay”…the number five in Kanji is pronounced ‘go,’ meaning the length of the video could be read as “two-two-go.”.During his at-bats, Yoshi’s home crowd would extend their arms and chant: “Up high into the sky of Yokohama, hit a home run, Tsutsugo!”.Yoshi wore No.