"In fact, Duran and Yoshida are both strong early candidates for tournament MVP right now, with Duran leading the field in home runs with three, while Yoshida is second in both homers and hits (two and six, respectively)."
"Duran likely has the inside track. There's no question he's been the better player overall and he seems to be one of Alex Cora's favorites. But Yoshida's contact-heavy profile is relatively rare on this current Red Sox roster and he ended the 2025 season as one of the lineup's best performers."
The 2023 World Baseball Classic featured standout performances from Masataka Yoshida, who won MVP honors, and other international stars. Jarren Duran, who barely played for Mexico in 2023, has dramatically improved and now ranks among the tournament's best performers alongside Yoshida. Both players are strong MVP candidates, with Duran leading in home runs and Yoshida excelling in hits. The irony is that these two will likely compete for the designated hitter role with the Red Sox during the regular season. Duran appears to have the advantage due to his overall performance and favor with manager Alex Cora, though Yoshida's contact-heavy approach provides unique value to the roster.
#world-baseball-classic #red-sox-dh-competition #jarren-duran #masataka-yoshida #mlb-roster-decisions
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