Masataka Yoshida’s run in this year’s World Baseball Classic went about as well as possible. The Red Sox rookie outfielder dominated at the plate — setting a WBC record with 13 RBI — and helped Japan go undefeated on its way to the third WBC title in its country’s history.
Unsurprisingly, Yoshida was named a member of the All-World Baseball Classic team, which was announced Tuesday night after Japan’s dramatic 3-2 win over Team USA.
Yoshida was one of two Red Sox players on the list along with infielder Yu Chang, who was recognized for his strong play in Pool A action with Chinese Taipei. Both players are expected to return to camp in Fort Myers, Florida, in the coming days.
Here’s a look back at how all of Boston’s representatives fared in this year’s WBC:
OF Masataka Yoshida (Japan)
Yoshida was one of the tournament’s best offensive players, as he hit .409 with a double, two homers, 13 RBI and a 1.258 OPS for Japan in seven games. He reached base in 13 of his 22 plate appearances and struck out just once. If not for Shohei Ohtani, Yoshida very well could have been named tournament MVP. It was an encouraging two weeks for Boston’s most important offseason acquisition, who hit a clutch homer in Japan’s semifinal win over Mexico.
INF Yu Chang (Chinese Taipei)
Chang, who re-signed with the Red Sox last month and is expected to be a reserve infielder on the Opening Day roster, had a great stretch for Chinese Taipei, which was eliminated after pool play. Chang was 7 for 16 (.438) with two doubles, two homers and eight RBI. He’ll rejoin the Red Sox once he figures out some visa issues at home.
OF Alex Verdugo (Mexico)
Verdugo didn’t have the best overall Classic, as he hit just .130 (3 for 23) with a double and four RBI. But his signature moment was a big one as he ripped an eighth-inning go-ahead double to put Mexico up over Japan in a semifinal game Japan would eventually come back and win. Verdugo is back in camp and will continue his preparations to be the Sox’s starting right-fielder.
INF/OF Kiké Hernández (Puerto Rico)
Hernández manned center field for Puerto Rico despite being tagged as Boston’s shortstop in 2023. He had a strong offensive showing, going 6 for 20 (.300) with two doubles and four RBI in five games. Though Puerto Rico’s WBC bid ended prematurely, Hernández still provided a signature moment with a rare eighth-inning walk-off single that sealed a perfect game due to the tournament’s mercy rules.
3B Rafael Devers (Dominican Republic)
Fresh off a $313.5 million extension, Devers had a disappointing Classic. He hit just 1 for 16 (.125) as the DH for the Dominican Republic, which was bounced earlier than anticipated after being an early tournament favorite.
C Jorge Alfaro (Colombia)
Alfaro, who is competing for a spot on the Soxs’ Opening Day roster, appeared in four games for Colombia, hitting .267 (4 for 15) with two doubles and a .713 OPS as the designated hitter. He’s back in camp trying to beat out Connor Wong for a spot on the roster alongside projected starting catcher Reese McGuire.
LHP Richard Bleier (Israel)
Bleier, who the Red Sox acquired from Miami for Matt Barnes earlier this year, was the team’s only major league pitcher in the tournament (Nick Pivetta dropped out because of a slow buildup due to a bout with COVID). Bleier struck out four in 2 2/3 shutout innings for Israel and even got the win in the country’s sole victory of the tournament over Nicaragua on March 12.
OF Jarren Duran (Mexico)
Duran played sparingly for Mexico, getting just five at-bats in six games. He did not have a hit but stole two bases as a pinch runner. Duran is competing for a reserve outfield spot on the Opening Day roster.
LHP Rio Gomez (Colombia)
Gomez, the son of late ESPN journalist Pedro Gomez, pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in his lone appearance for Colombia, striking out two. The 28-year-old could reach Triple-A this year after making it to Double-A in 2022.
INF Edwin Díaz (Puerto Rico)
Díaz, a minor league free agent signee of the Red Sox over the winter, didn’t log a plate appearance behind a stacked Puerto Rico infield that included Javier Báez and Francisco Lindor.
RHP Kenley Jansen (Netherlands) and RHP Norwith Gudiño (Colombia)
Jansen, Boston’s closer, and Gudiño, a nonroster invitee, were part of their country’s “designated player pools” and could have participated if their teams advanced to the quarterfinals. That did not happen in either case.
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