Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Dodgers, MLB Debut Date Revealed: Report

Now that everyone has reported to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch-Glendale, one of the questions heading into the season is when new free agent signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be making his MLB debut.

According to a report from Dylan Hernández of the Los Angeles Times, Yamamoto is slated to get his first start for the Dodgers in one of their two opening games versus the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea.

This means that Yamamoto will start for the first time in Dodgers uniform on either March 20 or March 21, 2024. This will be an exciting day for Los Angeles as one of their huge offseason acquisitions will finally make their Dodgers and MLB debut.

The Dodgers signed Yamamoto to a ginormous 12-year, $325 million contract during the offseason, making him the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history.

Yamamoto joins the Dodgers after spending his entire professional baseball career in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, where he was one of the top pitchers. Yamamoto was a four-time Pacific League ERA and strikeout leader, including leading both of these categories over the last three seasons.

Now, the Dodgers are hoping he replicates this production and success in MLB, where Yamamoto is expected to help the Dodgers bring home another World Series title.

He’ll start his MLB journey in late March in Korea for the loaded Dodgers.

Photo Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports