The “pride of Japan,” Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 25, is officially making his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut.
The Orix Buffaloes, who lost the championship to the Hanshin Tigers on May 5, officially authorized Yamamoto to post to the MLB. Yamamoto, who had previously expressed his desire to play in the big leagues, was officially granted permission by the Orix after the Japan Series ended.
“I’m very grateful to the club for the recognition,” Yamamoto said through the club. I had a lot of good memories with the Orix. It was seven years where I grew a lot. MLB is the best league in the world, so I will repay them by becoming a player that works well there.”
Yamamoto’s chances of making it to the MLB are 100 percent.
Many MLB teams looking to bolster their starting rotation have previously expressed interest in Yamamoto. The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Texas Rangers have all been in the running for Yamamoto, despite the prospect of a massive contract totaling more than $200 million.
MLB.com ranked Yamamoto No. 2 on its list of 25 offseason free agents. He was ranked just below Shohei Ohtani, the “two-hitter”. The KBO’s Lee Jung-hoo is ranked 13th. It’s a good indication of how valuable Yamamoto is in the United States.
CBS Sports also recently ranked free agents, placing Yamamoto second behind Ohtani and projecting him to “break Masahiro Tanaka’s record of $155 million”.
He has pitched exceptionally well this year. He went 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA in 23 games this season, becoming the first pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball to win four pitching awards (wins, ERA, strikeouts, and winning percentage) in three consecutive years. In 172 career Nippon Professional Baseball games, he has a 70-29 record with a 1.82 ERA and 922 strikeouts. Won his third straight Sawamura Award, which is given to the best starting pitcher. Throws a variety of pitches, including a fastball that averages 153 mph, a fork, a slider, and a cut fastball. 토토사이트
The Orix advanced to the Japan Series for the third consecutive year with Yamamoto, but fell to the Hanshin Tigers 1-7 in Game 7 on Friday, dropping the series 3 games to 4. However, Yamamoto shined in the series. He started Game 6 and pitched nine innings of one-run ball (one homer) with 14 strikeouts and one walk to give the Orix a chance to win their second straight.
If he keeps up his current form, the odds are in his favor to secure at least two spots in the big league rotation.
