Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto Named as Top MLB Rookie For 2024 Season

Before he gets his first major league start on Thursday, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been named Baseball America’s top rookie for the 2024 season.

After Yamamoto, Texas Rangers left fielder Evan Carter, Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio, Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday and Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford round out the top five.

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ first-year pitcher made his way to MLB after previously playing for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball. In NPB, Yamamoto was a five-time All-Star and a three-time Pacific League MVP. As one of the biggest names in free agency, Yamamoto signed a 12-year, $325 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason.

The question for the Dodgers, of course, will be whether Yamamoto’s pitching can translate to MLB. The answer will determine whether he’s an NL Rookie of the Year contender. In spring training, results were mixed.

In three starts and 9.2 innings pitched, Yamamoto struck out 14 batters. He also allowed 15 hits and nine earned runs — an 8.38 ERA. Yamamoto got off to a tremendous beginning in his first start, when he allowed zero runs and faced the minimum batters for two innings. He also showcased one of his best pitches, a splitter that had the opposing hitter fooled, and threw 16 of 19 pitches for strikes.

Yamamoto did not have the same success in his next two starts. While the Dodgers remain confident in the right-hander, they of course want to see more when Yamamoto makes his regular season debut against the San Diego Padres on Thursday.

Photo Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

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