Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the 2025 World Series MVP.
After pitching 34.2 innings in the postseason, including six innings on the way to securing Game 6, the right-hander came in to pitch the final 2.2 innings of Game 7, on zero days rest.
More news: Dodgers Announce Plans for World Series Parade After 2025 Win
Going into World Series Game 2, Yamamoto’s first start of the 2025 Fall Classic, he was coming off a complete game only 10 games prior in the NLCS. The ace, with a 0-1 series deficit, unleashed another complete game performance, allowing just four hits, one earned run, punching out eight, and walking no batters.
Two days later, in the midst of what turned into an 18-inning thriller, Yamamoto was seen warming up in the bullpen as his team was down to its last relief pitcher. Although he was not needed, the thought of him warming up to pitch after his second-straight postseason complete game was nothing short of heroic.
Five days later, Yamamoto would deliver once again, this time in Game 6 of the World Series. With his team down 3-2 in the series, the right-hander struck out six over six solid innings, allowing just one earned run and one walk to get his team to Game 7.
After the contest, manager Dave Roberts claimed that all pitchers except Yamamoto would be available for Game 7. Saturday afternoon, the right-hander was perfectly encapsulating what it means to be the ace of the defending champions and warming up on the field.
He didn’t just hurl pitches on zero days rest, but delivered pinpoint offerings to ensure that his team would keep their season alive. He emerged from a bases loaded, bottom of the ninth situation with no runs allowed, and kept the Blue Jays at bay until a Will Smith home run in the 11th inning would solidify the Dodgers’ place in baseball lore forever.
More news: Dodgers Win World Series Over Blue Jays in 11 Innings in Dramatic Game 7
Photo Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Have you downloaded the new Dodgers Nation app yet? Click here for Apple Users and here for Android Users to be a part of the redesigned app to give fans everything they need, all in one place. Don’t miss out on live GameCast with play-by-play, news and analysis, Dodgers Nation podcasts and videos, all the stats you want and more!
4 Responses
Wow, just wow. A legendary performance by Yamamoto in this era of 6 inning starts with 5 or 6 days between starts. Surprised when he came in, shocked when he came out for a second inning. Just dumbfounded when he came out for the 3rd. After a start and a win yesterday.
Now. As long as he doesn’t need TJ surgery next June.
I agree with Mike about his reference to possible TJ for YM. The very least that Dodger Mgmt can do for the most loyal and supportive fans in MLB, is make a public statement, before the parade, that substantiates that our MVP FOR 2025 postseason is in fact healthy and will be able to report to spring training in 2026 to begin his normal preparation for the new season based on the best medical overview that we have right now.
Yoshi’s PERFORMANCE was EPIC,— and will be remembered for MANY Years to COME!! He just reserved a SPOT in the Hall of Fame. And, the Home Runs by Rojas and Smith will ALSO be REMEMBERED for Many Years to Come!! An INCREDIBLE Victory for all the Dodgers and the Management. But my request of Andrew Friedman—PLEASE get some good Bullpen Arms during the Winter.
Bullpen arms not named Blake.