Yoshinobu Yamamoto Says He Likely Would Have Signed With Dodgers Regardless of Shohei Ohtani’s Decision
The day finally arrived Wednesday: the Los Angeles Dodgers introduced Yoshinobu Yamamoto as a member of the team.
Like his new teammate, Shohei Ohtani, Yamamoto’s free agency invited speculation about what was important to the right-handed pitcher in choosing a team. There were rumors that Yamamoto grew up a Dodger fan, did not mind playing with another Japanese player, and wanted to win. Wednesday, Yamamoto had a chance to separate fact from fiction.
Donning the No. 18, Yamamoto provided a soundbite that will excite every Dodger fan. Asked if Ohtani’s signing with the Dodgers impacted his decision, had this to say:
“Even if (Ohtani) went somewhere else, I probably would have ended up in L.A. with the Dodgers.”
This isn’t to say Ohtani joining the Dodgers didn’t help. Yamamoto did confirm that he was very excited to play alongside his countryman and recent WBC teammate.
More importantly, Yamamoto wanted to be a Dodger. This quote reflects the incredible winning culture that the Guggenheim Baseball ownership group, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, manager Dave Roberts, and others have built over the past decade.
Yamamoto wanted to join a team that not only could win now, but was in a position to win in the future.
The excitement in the air around Yamamoto is palpable. In his brief time in Los Angeles, he said he has already posed for photos with fans. And he’s still at least two months away from finally taking the mound as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
