New Headline: Alex Cora Debuts Strategy for Boston's Epic Run
Alex Cora Comments On How Masataka Yoshida's WBC Performance Impacts Red Sox originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Boston Red Sox have a surplus of talented outfielders, and Masataka Yoshida has made things even tougher for the Red Sox after his World Baseball Classic performance.
With Jarren Duran, Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela slotted to be everyday players, Yoshida's playing time may have been expected to be limited. Duran and Anthony are expected to split designated hitter and left field duties. Rafaela and Abreu were slotted to play every day in center field and right field.
However, Yoshida hit very well in the World Baseball Classic and played solid defense as well, making things tough on Alex Cora. However, Cora is not viewing the tough decisions as a bad thing. It just means the Red Sox have no shortage of talented players.
Yoshida played 27 innings in the field in the World Baseball Classic. He is not known as a stellar defender, which is why he has spent most of his time as a designated hitter. With Duran and Anthony taking that spot, Yoshida's defense improving could actually create a path for him to get more at-bats.
“The fact that he played the outfield was good for us,” Cora said Monday at JetBlue Park, per MassLive's Christopher Smith . “It’s actually really good for us. He was moving well.