Los Angeles Dodgers Secure Japanese Phenom Yoshinobu Yamamoto with Record-Breaking Contract

In yet another remarkable move this offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly made a major splash by signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto to an unprecedented 12-year, $325 million contract.

The 25-year-old right-hander had a sensational season with the Orix Buffaloes, boasting an impressive 17-6 record alongside a remarkable 1.21 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 176 strikeouts in just 24 games. His outstanding performance earned him his third consecutive Eiji Sawamura Award and Pacific League MVP in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league.

Yamamoto’s arsenal of pitches, including a blazing high-90s fastball, curveball, cutter, and splitter, positions him as a projected ace in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Lars Nootbaar, an outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals and former teammate of Yamamoto on Team Japan during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, couldn’t contain his excitement about the talented right-hander’s potential. Nootbaar spoke highly of Yamamoto, praising his diverse repertoire of pitches, as reported by Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times:

“As a hitter, you try to eliminate so many things and try to focus on one, but with him, he has so many weapons, and they all move so much. He’s a special pitcher, for sure,” said Nootbaar, a former standout at El Segundo High School and USC.

Considered by many as his best pitch, Yamamoto’s splitter has drawn particular attention, and Nootbaar believes that his overall pitch mix will facilitate a seamless transition to the MLB.

“It’s just not fair to have a pitch that moves as much as it does and is as heavy as it seems at the velocity at which he’s throwing it. If you have a guy throwing a 91-93-mph fastball and his splitter is at 82-84 mph, you have a chance because you don’t have to cheat to get to the fastball. But when you have a guy who can throw as hard as he does and you throw the splitter at different velocities, it’s really not fair. Then he’s got that big breaker and the cutter that he plays off of those. You’re just kind of at a loss for words when you’re watching it,” Nootbaar expressed.

While some scouts have expressed concerns about Yamamoto’s durability due to his smaller frame, others remain optimistic, citing his clean mechanics and rigorous training regimen as factors that will help mitigate any potential injury risks.

Having shared the field as teammates on Team Japan, Yamamoto and Nootbaar may have the opportunity to face each other for the first time when the Dodgers host the Cardinals on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium.

It has also been revealed that Yamamoto’s admiration for the Dodgers dates back to his childhood, and he has been captivated by the organization for several years prior to signing with them, adding an extra layer of significance to this momentous signing.