Dodgers’ Dave Roberts Not Concerned About Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Shoulder Injury From Last Year
To say Yoshinobu Yamamoto has simply been ‘good’ this year would be a gross understatement.
The $325-million-man has been lights out for the Dodgers — registering himself among the best in the sport in multiple categories. A microscopic 0.93 ERA has been buoyed by the electric pitch mix he demonstrated in Japan before making the move stateside.
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The confidence on the mound is flowing out of Yamamoto. Now a year into his Major League Baseball odyssey, he appears to be far more comfortable this year knowing what to expect.
Yamamoto’s progress as a first-year player was hindered for a few months as he recovered from a shoulder injury. It was less-than-ideal for Yamamoto to try and acclimate to a totally new culture while being sidelined with an injury he was not thrilled about enduring.
When asked whether he had concern that the shoulder was still worrisome, manager Dave Roberts was quick to say no.
“I think that that’s past us,” Roberts said. “Just talking to (pitching coach) Mark Prior and the training staff, feeling like his body’s in a good place so we can push him a little bit and I have. Last year, being more mindful in trying to get his feet under him and build the confidence. But right now I just feel like I can let him go.”
Roberts’ willingness to let Yamamoto get deeper into games with a higher pitch count is clearly a sign the team has trust in his durability at this given time.
Yamamoto is scheduled to make his next start on Friday at home in a highly-anticipated game against Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates. This could ultimately be a preview as to who wins the Cy Young Award in the National League given how talented and highly-touted both arms are.
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Photo credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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