According to a report from the Yakyu Cosmopolitan, Boston Red Sox' slugger Masataka Yoshida wants to play for Team Japan at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but he has not received official clearance yet.

From the outlet:

According to manager Hirokazu Ibata, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shota Imanaga, Seiya Suzuki, Kodai Senga, Masataka Yoshida, Kazuma Okamoto, and Munetaka Murakami have expressed their desire to participate in the WBC.

However, official approval has not yet come from MLB.

It's unclear what "approval" Japan is waiting for, but often times, the approval is tied up in insurance clearance. That has been an issue for other players and other nations as well during this cycle.

Now 32 years old, he was signed to a five-year deal before the 2023 season. A solid bat-to-ball hitter, he's had trouble staying healthy over the last two seasons. He played 108 games in 2024, hitting .280 with 10 homers and 56 RBIs, and then he played only 55 in 2025, hitting four homers and driving in 26.

He was part of Japan's WBC roster in 2023 - the group that beat Team USA in an epic gold medal final. 

Through three seasons in the big leagues, he's a .282 hitter with 29 home runs. 

Heading into spring training, Yoshida's usage and roster spot are going to be some of the biggest storylines for the Red Sox.

As it stands right now, Boston has four excellent outfielders in Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu. Logic dictates that three of them will play the outfield and one of them will DH, leaving no room for Yoshida.

So what happens then?

Will Yoshida be traded? Who will take his money, if anyone ($34 million remaining)? Will he be designated for assignment? Could the Sox trade one of the outfielders still to clear a spot so Yoshida can be the DH? Will Rafaela see more time at second base to open up the DH spot for him? It all remains to be seen.

This will be the sixth iteration of the popular international tournament. Japan has won three times (2006, 2009, 2023), while the United States won in 2017. The Dominican Republic captured the gold medal in 2013.

Each of those three teams, plus Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Mexico, figure to be contenders this time around.

Play begins March 4 with the championship coming on March 17.

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