An equal number? What exactly is it?
It is a minor but possibly significant aspect of the relationship between the New York Yankees and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Reports from within the league indicate that the Yankees had kept Yamamoto at number 18 for the last 12 months on purpose. The Orix Buffaloes’ Yamamoto had that number, and it’s also the “ace” number in Japanese custom.
It was with the Yankees that former NPB ace Hiroki Kuroda wore number 18. As an ace for the Rakuten Golden Eagles of the NPB, Masahiro Tanaka wore number 18 before signing with the Yankees. However, in New York, out of respect for Kuroda, who was still on the team, Tanaka took 19 instead.
While routinely scouting Yamamoto in Japan last season, the Yankees purposefully refrained from giving away 18. In 2022, it was worn by Andrew Benintendi in New York.
After the winter meetings, Yamamoto will visit with MLB clubs in person, according to SNY’s weekend report. He is also linked to the Dodgers, Giants, and Red Sox. While the Yankees wore 18 last year, the other three teams—San Francisco’s Darin Ruf and Paul DeJong, the Dodgers’ Shelby Miller, and Boston’s Adam Duvall—did not.
Next year, Darryl Strawberry will wear number 18, replacing Nick Plummer, who wore it last for the Mets in 2022.
No. 18 Jersey Belonging to Yoshinobu Yamamoto Rescued by New York Amid Links
There have been rumblings that the New York Yankees have been holding out hope for Japanese pitching star Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
It has been reported by Andy Martino of SNY that the Yankees “have purposefully held the number 18 for Yamamoto over the past year.”
For several reasons, the No. 18 is important to Yamamoto. While playing with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball, it was his number, and as Martino pointed out, it is “traditionally considered the ‘ace’ number in Japan.”
After courting Japanese pitchers in the past, the Yankees understand the significance of the number to Yamamoto. During his time in New York from 2012 to 2014, Hiroki Kuroda sported the No. 18. As a symbol of respect for Kuroda, who was still a Yankee at the time of Tanaka’s signing, the ace of the NPB’s Rakuten Golden Eagles, Masahiro Tanaka, wore No. 19.
After Andrew Benintendi in 2022, the last player to wear the No. 18 jersey in New York was… The Yankees, according to Martino “intentionally did not give out 18 last season as they were regularly scouting Yamamoto in Japan.”
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The Yankees’ efforts to entice Yamamoto to sign with them this winter will be determined by the passage of time. After the winter meetings, the right-handed pitcher is anticipated to start visiting with Major League Baseball teams in person.