MLB Podcaster pins Red Sox's recent losses on Masataka Yoshida "Curse": "Everything was great up until that happened"
The Boston Red Sox's recent run of bad form has been linked to the Masataka Yoshida incident by a popular podcaster. The Red Sox suffered their third straight defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates in what has been a disappointing string of performances in MLB. A podcaster on Twitter has suggested that the reason behind their recent lack of fortune is because of fans who refused to return Masataka Yoshida's first career home run ball.
The incident in question took place on April 4, 2023, during the Red Sox's fourth game of the season and their first one against the Pirates. Yoshida, a highly touted Japanese prospect, made his Major League Baseball debut and hit a home run in his first at-bat. The ball landed in the right-field stands, where it was caught by a group of fans. According to reports, the fans were excited and celebrating, and one of them took the ball and refused to give it back to the Red Sox.
Matasaka Yoshida's career-first MLB home run tied the game in the bottom of the first innings, though the Red Sox went on to lose the game 7-6 in the end. The MLB podcaster in question, Jared Carrabis, believes that ever since fans refused to return Yoshida's home run ball, things have gone south for the Red Sox. He even went so far as to suggest that it has cursed them, calling it the "Curse of the Yoshida Ball."
"I can get behind the Curse of the Yoshida Ball," Carrabis wrote on Twitter. "Until that family returns Masataka Yoshida’s first big league home run ball, I have no choice but to believe that event has caused all of this. Everything was great up until that happened. Give Masa his ball back."
While the idea of a curse may seem far-fetched, there is some evidence to suggest that the Red Sox's luck has taken a turn for the worse since the Masataka Yoshida incident. Notably, they have gone on to lose all three of their games against the Pirates.
I can get behind the Curse of the Yoshida Ball. Until that family returns Masataka Yoshida’s first big league home run ball, I have no choice but to believe that event has caused all of this. Everything was great up until that happened. Give Masa his ball back.
Masataka Yoshida's first career home run ties the game! https://t.co/qjb8fjpJcn
Masataka Yoshida and the Red Sox will be rearing to end their run of losses in the coming days
Of course, there are many other factors that could be contributing to the Boston Red Sox's recent losses. It's still early in the season, and there is plenty of time for the team to turn things around. Their focus will now be on the upcoming series against the Detroit Tigers, as they look to turn things around in their MLB season so far.
However, the "Masataka Yoshida Curse" theory has gained traction among some fans, who are now calling for the fan who took the ball away to be banned from Fenway Park.