Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto Announces Career News on Wednesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Dec 17, 2025 6:38 PM ET

The Los Angeles Dodgers captured their second consecutive World Series title back in early November, and the biggest reason they did was the dominance of right-handed starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The 27-year-old was nearly untouchable in the Fall Classic, winning three of the four games Los Angeles needed to secure the championship and earning World Series MVP honors in the process.

The Dodgers raised eyebrows when they signed Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million contract before he had ever thrown a pitch in MLB. That bold investment has already paid off. His postseason brilliance was simply an extension of what he delivered throughout the 2025 regular season.

Across 30 starts, Yamamoto posted a 2.49 ERA, striking out 201 batters in 173 2/3 innings. His devastating splitter has quickly become one of the best pitches in the league, and he rode it to a third-place finish in National League Cy Young Award voting.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18)© Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

As Yamamoto heads into the offseason, his focus seemingly shifted to international play. It was revealed last week according to Yahoo News Topics that he would suit up for Team Japan in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, scheduled for March.

Yamamoto was instrumental in Japan’s championship run four years ago, a tournament that helped elevate his profile on the global stage.

On Wednesday, however, Yamamoto made clear that despite his desire to pitch, his status is still uncertain. This marked a shift from the report a week earlier that suggested he was set to join Team Japan for the tournament. “Yoshinobu Yamamoto said nothing is decided but that he would like to pitch in the WBC,” reported Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto said nothing is decided but that he would like to pitch in the WBC. https://t.co/fe7yOXD0I4
— Dylan Hernández (@dylanohernandez) December 17, 2025

His teammate, two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, has already confirmed he will represent Japan after receiving clearance from the Dodgers. Yamamoto’s situation may be more complicated. He has shouldered an enormous workload over the past two seasons, pitching deep into consecutive World Series runs.

With the Dodgers committed to him for the next decade, the organization must weigh the risks of additional innings against the importance of keeping him healthy. His arm will be closely monitored this winter, as the team hopes to ensure a normal ramp-up ahead of the 2026 campaign, which will be his third season in Los Angeles.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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