Masataka Yoshida has made a great impact for the Boston Red Sox this season and he may have some recognition coming his way as a result. It is not, however, recognition he wants.
Yoshida was dismissive of the possibility of winning A.L. Rookie of the Year in 2023, explaining that he does not feel like a true rookie and that the award should go to someone else.
“I am not interested in Rookie of the Year because I have done years in Japan already,” Yoshida said through a translator Wednesday, via Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe. “But it’s an honor.”
It is not often you will see a player openly suggest he has no business winning an award, but Yoshida has a point. The outfielder had an accomplished career in Japan before moving to Boston this season and entered the Majors at 29 years old. While he is a rookie by the technical definition of the word, he has played professionally for years.
There is precedent that Yoshida might not like, though. Ichiro Suzuki won A.L. Rookie of the Year in 2001 despite debuting at age 27 after a somewhat similar career arc to that of Yoshida.
On the basis of pure performance, it is hard to argue against Yoshida for the honor. He is hitting .318 with seven home runs and is the favorite in the award race at the moment. Whether he wants it or not.
More must-reads: