In Major League Baseball, Japanese outfielder Yoshida Masataka of the Boston Red Sox has run afoul of MLB's new "pitch clock" rule in his first spring training game.
The Japanese rookie has also debuted with a double in his first at bat.

Yoshida played in a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Florida on Sunday. He was in left field and batted cleanup.

In his first at bat in the second inning, Yoshida smacked a double to the right center fence. He scored the first run of the game on an RBI single.

At bat in the fourth inning, he was called for an automatic strike because he was not set in the box in time.

This is a pitch clock violation -- one of the new rules introduced to speed pace of play. Batters must be in the box and alert to the pitcher with 8 seconds left on the clock.

Yoshida said he would probably be a little late with the same pre-pitch routine he used in Japan. He added that he wants to make sure he will not make the same mistake.

The former Orix Buffaloes player signed a deal with the Red Sox last year. He has also been selected as a member of the Japanese national team for the World Baseball Classic.

Yoshida will join his country's team camp in early March.