Yoshinobu Yamamoto impresses in Dodgers spring debut
Yoshinobu Yamamoto impressed in his spring training debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, throwing two innings, striking out three and allowing just one hit.
The Japanese rookie phenom showed why he was one of the most sought-after free agents of all time, making light work of the defending World Series-champion Rangers.
Yamamoto began his debut by striking out All-Star second baseman Marcus Semien on three pitches, getting him to fan on a 96 high fastball.
After allowing a single to Evan Carter, Yamamoto was able to get out of the first inning by getting Wyatt Langford to softly ground into a double play.
Yamamoto led off the second inning with perhaps his most impressive showing of the day against former Silver Slugger Nathaniel Lowe. Yamamoto's first pitch to Lowe was a 94 mph fastball on the inside of the zone that was called a strike. Yamamoto once again got Lowe to look by slowing it down with a 74 mph 12-6 curveball for strike two. On the next pitch, Lowe looked silly, whiffing on a splitter in the dirt.
All-Star catcher Jonah Heim was up next and Yamamoto was able to induce a harmless fly out on the first pitch of the at-bat.
Facing the final batter of his debut outing, Yamamoto got another strikeout with his splitter, this time making Leody Taveras look foolish.
"I was just trying to do my job, trying to stay calm and focus on what I have to do," Yamamoto said through an interpreter after the game.
Yamamoto was able to throw 16-of-19 pitches for strikes, showing off the high level of command that was seen in the World Baseball Classic and in Japan.
Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani made the 30-minute trip to support his new teammate and countryman despite not being in the lineup following his Dodgers spring training debut on Tuesday.
"I didn’t think he would come, so it made me really happy," Yamamoto said.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was thrilled with Yamamoto's debut.
"He got to use his entire pitch mix. He was pounding the strike zone. He got a lot of swing and miss. He was efficient," said Roberts. "I think for us, Shohei making his debut [on Tuesday], Yoshinobu making his debut today, very, very exciting times right now."
The Dodgers signed Yamamoto to a historic 12-year, $325 million contract this offseason, the largest ever given to a pitcher.
Yamamoto is expected to start one of the Dodgers' two games in South Korea when they open the season against the San Diego Padres on March 20.
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