Far, far from Fort Myers, the Red Sox had some players make contributions in the World Baseball Classic.
In Japan's 13-4 victory over Korea, Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida had a huge day. Yoshida, batting fifth for his native country, was 3-for-3 with five RBI and a walk. Yoshida collected three singles and a sacrifice fly.
Yoshida signed a five-year, $90 million contract with the Red Sox last December. He left Red Sox camp last week to fly to Taiwan to compete in the WBC.
Also, Yu Chang smacked a game-tying, two-run homer in the sixth inning of Chinese Taipei's 11-7 win over Italy.
Chang, who spent time with the Sox toward the end of last season, was re-signed by the team as a free agent last month. Because the signing took place after camp had begun and Chang intended to play for Chinese Taipei, the Red Sox gave him permission to remain at home, then report to Fort Myers when his team is eliminated.
Chang will complete for a utility infielder's spot on the roster and seems likely to make the Opening Day roster, with Adalberto Mondesi unlikely to be completely healthy after undergoing knee surgery last May.
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It had to happen eventually. After going 9-0-3 in their first 12 Grapefruit League games, the Red Sox finally absorbed a defeat in spring training play Friday, dropping a 2-0 decision to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Starter Corey Kluber allowed both Blue Jays runs -- one in the third and another in the fourth -- while the Sox were being shutout.
The Red Sox didn't collect a hit until the fourth inning when Adam Duvall, who had a nightmarish start to camp (hitless in his first 16 plate appearances) collected his first hit.
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The Red Sox signed a total of 19 players -- with zero to three years of major league service time and thus, ineligible for salary arbitration -- to major league deals for the upcoming season.
Signed, according to industry sources, were: John Schreiber ($750,000), Bobby Dalbec ($740,000), Tanner Houck ($740,000), Kutter Crawford ($730,000), Brayan Bello ($729,500), Jarren Duran ($726,000), Triston Casas ($723,500), Connor Wong ($722,000) and Josh Winckowski ($722,000).
Also signed were: Wilyer Abreu, David Hamilton, Zack Kelly, Bryan Mata, Wyatt Mills, Chris Murphy, Kaleb Ort, Ceddanne Rafaela, Enmanuel Valdez, and Brandon Walter.
For context, the major league minimum for 2023 is $720,000.
Unlike last year, the Red Sox did not have any renewals. Renewals occur when a player rejects a proposed salary and the team imposes its salary on a player. The team did so last year with Houck.