Yamamoto Yoshinobu (26), a Japanese pitcher of the Los Angeles Dodgers who boasts the highest price of a pitcher in MLB history, showed off his robustness in his return to the big league in 87 days. 메이저사이트
Yamamoto took the mound as a starter in the home game against the Chicago Cubs in the 2024 MLB regular season at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on the 11th (Korea time) and allowed four hits, eight strikeouts and one run in four innings. The Dodgers lost 3-6 due to Japanese left-hander Shota Imana, who started the Cubs, giving up three runs in seven innings.
Yamamoto, who entered the U.S. with a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers ahead of this season, quickly adapted to the big leagues by going 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 74 innings in 14 appearances before the injury. However, after going down the mound after two innings against the Kansas City Royals on June 16, he was listed on the 60-day injured list with a rotator cuff injury to his right shoulder.
Yamamoto, who disappeared for more than two months, made two rehabilitation appearances for Triple-A before starting the game against Cubs on Wednesday. Yamamoto hit a fastball of 96.8 miles per hour (about 155.8 kilometers) from the first pitch against leadoff hitter Ian Happ in the top of the first inning, and got off to a good start by swinging on the fourth pitch. Dansby Swanson also struck out swinging on the fourth pitch, and Japanese batter Seiya Suzuki struck out swinging on a fastball of 97.6 miles per hour on the seventh pitch after a full count.
Yamamoto struck out four batters in a row in the top of the second inning, including Cody Bellinger, the first batter, and gave up his first hit to Isak Paredes. After striking out Michael Bush with a swing and miss, Yamamoto hit Niko Horner, who was on the verge of scoring a run with two outs and runners on the first and second bases, and induced Pete Crow Armstrong to ground out to the first base. However, while Freddie Freeman failed to catch a bound ball and spilled it to the side, the runner on the second base hit home. Yamamoto’s earned run went up as the record became a hit, not an error. With the second out and runners on the first and second bases, Yamamoto treated Miguel Amaya to a straight hit to right field and cleared the inning without allowing any additional runs.
When Tommy Edman, a former World Baseball Classic player, balanced the score 1-1 with a tying solo shot in the bottom of the second inning, Yamamoto also gained strength. In the third inning, Yamamoto struck out all of the Cubs’ first to third batters, including Hep, Swanson and Suzuki, just as he did in the first inning. Yamamoto took the mound in the fourth inning again after Bellinger grounded out to shortstop, before getting a hit out to Paredes. Yamamoto allowed Bush to hit a double play and no run, and ended the inning (59 pitches) as he reached the scheduled limit of 50 to 60 pitches.
Yamamoto, who returned to the game after 87 days, showed off his power by recording eight strikeouts through the third inning with a maximum speed of 97.9 miles per hour (about 157.6 kilometers) and an average speed of 96.3 miles per hour (about 155 kilometers).
After the game, Yamamoto said, “It was a very satisfactory return pitch than I thought. I threw it with the best feeling this year,” and looked back on the pitch, saying, “I think the breaking ball was thrown with a very good feeling, leading to a strikeout.” “I was really happy after the pitching was over. I was really relieved to be able to return safely and finish the game with good pitching content.”
Despite the loss, the Dodgers maintained its lead in the National League West with 86 wins and 59 losses (0.593 win rate), 4.5 games ahead of the San Diego Padres (82-64 win rate 0.562). With Yamamoto joining, the Dodgers is expected to gain strength not only in Mercury, the top spot in the district, but also in the management of its postseason starters.
