FORT MYERS, FL -- It may have only been against college competition, but Friday signaled the official beginning of Masataka Yoshida's MLB career.
It didn't take long for Yoshida to make a contribution. In the first inning, he delivered a run with a line drive sacrifice fly to left field as the Sox raced out to a 5-0 lead en route to a 5-3 win over Northeastern University.
"He'll be OK,'' assured Alex Cora, "if he's going to do that. He will hit lefties, too and stay on pitches and hit the ball in the air, too.''
Cora is impressed by how smoothly Yoshida has adapted to U.S. culture, and to his new environment.
"I think he's done an amazing job with all of that,'' said Cora. "Obviously, he's going to keep learning and there's going to be situations that are different. Travel is going to be different than in Japan. Obviously, the food and (the amount of) night games and the food, the schedules. But we know that he's a good player that we trust. We made a big commitment with him and so far, it's been great.''
Yoshida said almost everything about his first appearance in a Red Sox uniform was different, including hearing the lineups announced in English. He later told Japanese reporters that even successfully catching a few routine fly balls in the sun was an accomplishment of sorts, given that most games in Japan are playing in dome stadiums where the sun is not a factor.
Yoshida fell behind 0-and-2 in the at-bat in which he delivered the sac fly, and he was pleased that he was able to hit the ball the other way.
"I think I played well today'' he said through a translator. "I just want to keep that going.''
Yoshida will have only a few more games next week before returning home to Japan for the first round of the WBC.
"I'm focused on getting ready for the WBC right now,'' he said. "But also, I'm getting ready for games for Boston, so I'll just (keep preparing).''
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The Red Sox added a non-roster invitee to camp -- first baseman/outfielder Daniel Palka.
Palka had a decent season with the Chicago White Sox in 2018, hitting 27 homers and slugging .484, but has played just 20 games in the big leagues since, having bounced around the minors. He hit 26 homers at Triple A for the Mets last year.
"Power, controls the strike zone,'' said Cora. "He's here, says he's ready to play. He's another guy who has big league experience. It's a good bat and I'm glad we got him.''
Palka profiles as potential depth at Triple A.
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Cora was interested to get a look at Stephen Scott, who only converted to the catching position in 2021. "I'm just getting to know him,'' Cora said. "But (Jason Varitek) is really impressed with the way he goes about it. He's getting better. Offensively we know what he can do (with the bat). But being with Tek for all this time is going to be huge for him.'' ... Cora singled out Cedanne Rafaela as a player who caught his attention early in camp. "He's a good defender at shortstop; he's a great defender in center,'' said the manager. "He makes the tough plays look easy. He has a great arm with good instincts and moves well. Offensively there's a few things that we have to get better at -- controlling the strike zone, chase rate and all of that. But we've had guys before who have (had that issue) and with progression, got better.'' ... Rio Gomez, the son of the late ESPN broadcaster Pedro Gomez, pitched a scoreless 1-2-3 sixth inning ... Cora recalled playing at the University of Miami and facing the Florida Marlins in 1994 in Jupiter. That day, Cora first met Dave Dombrowski, then the GM of the Marlins, in the elevator of the hotel. Twenty-three years later, Dombrowski would hire Cora to manage the Red Sox ... Among the scheduled pitchers for the Red Sox Saturday in their Grapefruit League debut Saturday against the Braves: Matt Dermody, Richard Bleier, Kaleb Ort,, Wyatt Mills, Jake Faria and Norwith Gudino ... As for position players, Greg Allen, Rob Refsnyder, Raimel Tapia, Christian Arroyo, Matthew Lugo, David Hamilton and Bobby Dalbec are the position players going to North Port. Chris Sale is set to throw an inning of live batting practice Saturday morning. Following that will be a two-inning live BP, followed by his Grapefruit League debut. Saturday will mark the first time he's thrown to hitters since he took a come-backer off his left pinkie finger last July at Yankee Stadium ... Brayan Bello came through some long toss from 90 feet the other day and is set to throw off a mound Sunday ... Corey Kluber threw live BP Friday and Red Sox hitters hitting the ball into the ground, confounded by his cutter and two-seamer ... Saturday will mark the first time the Red Sox will play under MLB's rules, including a pitch clock, a ban on infield shifts, larger bases and restrictions on pickoff throws. Friday's game didn't incorporate the new rules.