Yoshinobu Yamamoto showcased his talent in his exhibition debut on Wednesday, pitching two scoreless innings and striking out three batters. His performance provided a glimpse of why the Los Angeles Dodgers have high hopes for the Japanese right-hander, seeing him as a potential ace in the big leagues.
Yamamoto began his outing by efficiently striking out Texas Rangers’ All-Star Marcus Semien in just six pitches. Despite giving up a single to Evan Carter, he quickly rebounded, inducing Wyatt Langford to ground into an inning-ending double play.
In the second inning, Yamamoto continued his dominance, dispatching Nathaniel Lowe on three pitches and retiring Jonah Heim with a flyout to left field. With a smooth and deliberate windup and a fastball reaching the mid-90s, he concluded his outing with another strikeout, this time against Leody Taveras in just four pitches.
His remarkable command was evident as he threw 16 of 19 pitches for strikes, reminiscent of his success in Japan.
Part of the Dodgers’ significant offseason investment in Japanese talent, Yamamoto’s $325 million, 12-year deal followed Shohei Ohtani’s record-breaking $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels in December.
While Ohtani has already established himself in Major League Baseball with two AL MVP awards and multiple All-Star appearances over six seasons, Yamamoto is set to make his MLB debut this season after an impressive tenure in Japan.
Standing at 5-foot-10 and aged 25, Yamamoto has been a standout pitcher in Japan, boasting a remarkable 16-6 record and a minuscule 1.21 ERA for the Orix Buffaloes in 2023.
Throughout his career, he has maintained a stellar 1.72 ERA across nearly 1,000 innings pitched, showcasing a diverse arsenal of pitches, including a reliable splitter, a potent four-seam fastball, and a sharp curveball.
With Ohtani recovering from an elbow injury and expected to focus solely on hitting in 2024 before returning to pitching in 2025, Yamamoto’s presence will be pivotal for the Dodgers as they seek success in the upcoming season.
