Masataka Yoshida Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Rookie sensation extends double-digit hitting streak in style

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 5/4/23

Boston Red Sox first-year phenom Masataka Yoshida continued to work as one of the hottest hitters in all of Major League Baseball on Thursday, extending his hitting streak to 14 games with a deep home run against Toronto Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman.

Yoshida didn't wait long to keep the streak going, taking Gausman deep in the bottom of the first inning by tattooing the first pitch he saw 400 feet to dead center.

MASHataka. pic.twitter.com/eiDxqJysKu
— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 4, 2023

The 29-year-old finished 3-for-5 with three RBI in an 11-5 Boston victory, helping the Red Sox earn their sixth consecutive win.

Over Yoshida's recent streak, he has posted 25 hits -- including four doubles and five home runs -- while driving 18 runs across the plate. Yosidha's bat has also led to wins for the Red Sox, who are 10-4 during his current hitting streak.

The Red Sox agreed to a five-year, $90 million deal with the former Orix Buffaloes star in December while paying another $15.4 million to the Nippon Professional Baseball club as a posting fee.

So far, the high price for Yoshida's services is paying even more dividends. Yoshida's electric start has him in the mix as an early favorite for the American League Rookie of the Year Award. Heading into Thursday's action, Yoshida ranked first among rookies in batting average (.303), on-base percentage (.391) and hits (30).

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