Yoshitomo Tsutsugo blasts Tampa Bay Rays first home run of the spring

As of 2:30 pm on February 24th, 2020, Yoshitomo Tsutsugo is sporting a perfect 1.000 OBP thus far in spring training.

Since making his debut during Sunday’s game against the New York Yankees, Tsutsugo has walked twice, singled, and has now crushed his first home run of the spring as he launched a ball beyond the wall in left-center field.

During the 4th inning of Monday’s contest against the Boston Red Sox at Port Charlotte, Tsutsugo barreled up a pitch and sent it skyward with tremendous carry to the left-center field alley. Eventually the outfielders ran out of room and the ball cleared the wall for a solo home run. Tsutsugo’s home run was also the Tampa Bay Rays first home run of the spring.

Tsutsugo’s early spring dinger is hopefully a sign of things to come for the Japanese slugger. During his days with the Yokohama Baystars, Tsutsugo was among the most fearsome hitters in Japan and clobbered a total of 205 homeruns, including 44 when he led the Japan Central League in 2016, during his 10 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball.