From horrific debut to World Series hero

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in overtime in a dramatic deciding game of Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday night, becoming the first team in a quarter-century to defend their title. They were also the first team in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to win the World Series with a roster that included three Japanese players: Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Riki Sasaki.

Yamamoto plays for Dodgers in 2024 | Wikimedia/Joe Glorizo

Yoshinobu Yamamoto becomes a star one day after throwing 96 pitches

Yamamoto, in particular, was outstanding with the Dodgers and deservedly won the series’ Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. The day after he pitched 96 pitches to win Game 2 of this year’s World Series, the Japanese superstar once again hit the mound, going 2 2/3 scoreless innings to settle the game for his team. In Game 2, he had four hits to help the Dodgers tie the series at 1-1. He had also gone the distance in the playoffs before that game.

“It’s unheard of,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think there’s a mental component, there’s a pitch, it’s a perfect pitch, and there’s an unwavering will. I just don’t see it. I really don’t. You know, it all adds up. Some players want the moment, and some players want it for the right reasons. But Yoshi is a guy that I trust completely, and he’s made me a very good manager.”

Signed from the Oricon Buffaloes to a whopping $325 million contract, the largest ever for a pitcher at the time, Yamamoto came to Los Angeles with huge expectations. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut on March 21, 2024 in Seoul against the San Diego Padres. To say the game was terrible would be an understatement. He worked just one inning, allowed five runs, and had an ERA of 45.00. Of the 43 pitches he threw, only 23 were strikes. Coach Dave Roberts isn’t too concerned about Yamamoto’s starting lineup, though; statement “You know he’s going to bounce back from this.”

Rebounding after a difficult start

It turns out Roberts was right. Yamamoto started 17 more games, and by the end of the 2024 season, his ERA reached an impressive 3.00. In Game 2 of that year’s World Series against the New York Yankees, he shut down opposing batters, allowing just one hit in 6 1/3 innings, helping the Dodgers win 4-2. Los Angeles ultimately won the series 4-1. His victory comes more than a year and a half after he helped his country win the World Baseball Classic (WBC).

Yamamoto, who won gold medals with the Buffaloes in the Tokyo Olympics and Japan Series, continued to show good form with the Dodgers this year, finishing with a 2.49 ERA in 30 regular season starts. However, his performance in the playoffs was particularly special. Shortstop Mookie Betts after Game 2 of the World Series descriptive He called him “awesome,” adding, “I’ve been playing for a long time and I’ve never seen anything like this.”

After the seventh game, Ohtani called Yamamoto “the best pitcher in the world”. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was equally effusive in his praise. “For him to have the same thing he had the night before is truly the greatest accomplishment I’ve ever seen in a Major League Baseball ballpark,” he explain.

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