Dodgers Manager Provides Exciting Update on Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw 42 pitches in a 15-minute long bullpen session Monday at spring training.
As manager Dave Roberts looked on, he couldn’t help but think that Yamamoto looks to be ahead of schedule — and much further along than he was at this point last season.
“Yamamoto is considerably ahead of where he was last year,” Roberts said. “And every time he throws a baseball, he’s getting better. The command, the delivery is just really good. The slider he was throwing today, it just looks like he’s hitting the ground running.”
With Yamamoto expected to be the Dodgers Opening Day starter against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo in just a few weeks, it’s important for him to feel comfortable, healthy and on pace to take the ball on March 18.
The right-hander doesn’t want a repeat of last year’s opening series in Seoul when he gave up five runs in one inning. His first-half performance was also inconsistent and he’s hoping his sophomore season will get off to a much better start.
“I learned a lot from all the experiences last year,” Yamamoto said. “That kind of helped me to adjust to what I was doing before, and what I needed to do” to be successful.
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The 26-year-old is expected to be a frontline option for the Dodgers starting rotation. He’s taking some time this spring to get to know some of his new teammates while also preparing for Opening Day.
“This is my second year, so it’s a little more comfortable,” Yamamoto added. “I like to enjoy the new guys this one month through spring training and then get myself ready for the games.”
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After finishing the regular season with a 7-2 record and a 3.00 ERA over 18 games, he posted a 3.86 ERA in four playoff starts, all of which resulted in wins. He is hoping to build off his postseason performances and be even better in 2025.
“Last year I spent three months rehabilitating,” Yamamoto said in Japanese. “This year I want to do my best to contribute to the team for the entire season and to become world champions again.”
Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
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