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VIDEO: Japanese Slugger Yoshi Tsutsugo Slams First Home Run for Rays

By Jackson Thompson

Yoshi Tsutsgo hits a home run for the Tamoa Bay Rays in Spring Training
Yoshi Tsutsgo hits a home run for the Tamoa Bay Rays in Spring Training / Tampa Bay Rays on Twitter

Yoshi Tsutsugo made the leap to the MLB this offseason, joining the Tampa Bay Rays on a two-year, $12 million deal. Well, it didn't take long for the former NPB slugger to make an impact in the spring. During Monday's clash with the Red Sox, Tsutsugo went bridge for the first time in a Rays uniform.

Tsutsugo got a hold of the pitch from Boston southpaw Jeffrey Springs, sending it over the wall in left center.

Over the past four seasons playing for the DeNA Baystars in Japan, the 28-year-old slugger hit .293 with 139 home runs and 116 doubles. His best season came back in 2016, when he launched a career-high 44 home runs and slashed .322/.430/.680. He's hoping to inject a bit of that power into Tampa's lineup.