Team Japan outfielder Masataka Yoshida (34) hits a single against Korea in a baseball semifinal match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium. Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

Japanese star who idolizes Bryce Harper wants to play in MLB

By Eric Treuden | Last updated 11/7/22

The Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan is home to some of the best players on the planet. The Orix Buffaloes, this year's NPB champions, are facing a tough roster decision days after winning the league championship.

Per The Japan Times, the Buffaloes may allow superstar Masataka Yoshida to play in the majors, a move the 29-year-old left fielder wants. Reports from Sports Illustrated suggest Yoshida wants to sign with the Phillies. He idolizes Philadelphia star Bryce Harper.

Bryce Harper is his idol.

He originally wore 34 because of Harper, his instagram is "bh_masataka34", etc etc pic.twitter.com/QwV3tmlKnV
— Gaijin Baseball/外国人野球 (@GaijinBaseball) October 31, 2022

During a seven-year career for the Buffaloes, Yoshida has 135 home runs, 474 RBIs and a .307 batting average. What's more eye-popping is that he has more walks (427) than strikeouts (307) in 781 games.

There's no guarantee the Buffaloes would even allow Yoshida to test the waters on a potential transfer to the United States. He technically has not played long enough to earn full-fledged free agency, so his club would have to agree to post him. That move would give the Buffaloes a hefty payday based on a contract Yoshida would sign in the United States.

Should Yoshida get posted, he would have 30 days to negotiate with MLB teams. If no agreement is reached, he would return to the Buffaloes and then not be re-eligible for posting until the conclusion of the 2024 season.

If you look hard enough, there is a fit for the Phillies for Yoshida, but it might not be ideal for Philadelphia.

Yoshida is limited defensively to left field. Harper has right field locked, which leaves Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos, who are both limited to left field and DH, would have to move.

Should Yoshida join the Phillies, it's possible Harper could move to center with Castellanos moving to right. Otherwise, one of either Schwarber or Castellanos could play at first base.

If a player of Yoshida's caliber expresses interest in joining your club, you make it work.

More must-reads: