With Yoshinobu Yamamoto becoming the most paid pitcher in MLB history, the Los Angeles Dodgers have high hopes for both him and themselves.

Opponents of the Dodgers’ choice to acquire Yamamoto contend that it would be foolish to offer such a large salary to a pitcher who has not yet appeared in a major league game. However, the Dodgers believe it will be successful.

When Shohei Ohtani initially moved to the US from Japan in 2018, similar things were said about him.

Ohtani’s arrival was under different conditions because he signed a contract worth only $2.3 million with the Angels. Some, meanwhile, questioned whether he could carry over his two-way play style to the Majors.

While there have undoubtedly been great Japanese MLB players, none of them have experienced the same level of anticipation and expectations as Ohtani and Yamamoto did upon their arrival. Despite his early setbacks and difficulties, Ohtani solidified his reputation as a household name in Major League Baseball.

Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times said that most impressively, he adapted to his new surroundings on his own and is now able to assist Yamamoto in doing the same:

The absence of a fellow countryman to provide him with support when Shohei arrived here six years ago [with the Angels] was, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, “different and difficult at times.” However, it has been fantastic for Yoshinobu to come here and have a [WBC] teammate, a fellow citizen, kind of teach him the ropes and support him.

Yamamoto has Ohtani to count on while he establishes himself, even if the route ahead of him will likely be tough and filled with obstacles.

In addition to being among MLB’s finest for many years, Ohtani and Yamamoto share a common cultural background and viewpoint, which helps Yamamoto cope with the culture shock of relocating to a foreign nation.

Although Tyler Glasnow and Bobby Miller are two more interesting and capable arms that can pitch at the head of the Dodgers rotation, the team still looks to Yamamoto as their ace.

This season, the Dodgers might be more formidable on the base paths.The Dodgers’ recent history has not included a lot of base-stealing, which is indicative of the current MLB environment overall.

But thanks to new pickoff regulations involving the pitch clock and larger bases, MLB altered the game’s rules for the previous season, bringing base stealing back to life.

Ohtani is a lightning-fast athlete who made 20 steals with the Los Angeles Angels in the previous season. Because of that skill, he has discussed becoming more aggressive on the basepaths with Freddie Freeman, who hits directly behind him.

If Ohtani can move into scoring position following a single or walk with Freeman at bat, the Dodgers’ ability to score runs might be much more potent this season.