Los Angeles Dodgers ace Tarik Skubal was spotted doing Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s signature workout ahead of the team’s game vs. the Reds.
Skubal has been on the team for only a month or so, but he seems to be taking a liking to his fellow starters.
On Thursday, September 17th, Skubal was spotted with Yamamoto and his translator, throwing the javelin, a staple of the Japanese star.
Yamamoto has been one of the more unique minds when it comes to his preparation, using a ton of flexibility and motion techniques.
This is not the first sign of Skubal’s appreciation for Yamamoto. When he first joined the team, Skubal was impressed with Yamamoto right off the bat.
“Yoshi’s process is nuts too, you know. I think that what he does is insane too, and watching his bullpens, the preparation is second to none,” Skubal told Dodgers Nation.
Why does Yamamoto throw javelins?
His famous javelin toss is just one part of a routine created by personal trainer Osamu Yada, who started working with Yamamoto during his teenage years in Japan.
Since then, “Yada Sensei,” as he is referred to, has worked with other members of the Dodgers, including Mookie Betts over the spring.
“I’m not fully in his whole routine,” Betts said of Yada. “But I wake up every morning and do my stretch routine that Sensei showed me, throwing the javelins every day.
“I think throwing javelins is the reason why I can make a play in the hole like that and throw it in the air on a line. I’m really grateful for Yoshi and Sensei, because they have definitely changed my perspective, changed my life, changed my game.”
Yamamoto has credited these workouts as the main reason the Dodgers’ ace can pitch often and, thus far, avoid serious injuries.
If the javelin can help Skubal as well, Yada Sensei’s legend will only grow.
One Response
It’s pretty fascinating to see Tarik Skubal embracing Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s unique training methods, especially considering the level both pitchers have already reached. What stands out most is the willingness to learn from a teammate and explore different ways to improve, rather than simply sticking with what’s familiar. Yamamoto’s preparation and attention to movement have clearly made an impression around the Dodgers, and seeing Skubal experiment with the javelin routine is a great example of how knowledge can spread within a pitching staff. If even a small part of that preparation helps Skubal stay healthy and effective, it could make an already intriguing partnership even more valuable.