Yoshinobu Yamamoto was at the center of several big moments as a rookie in Major League Baseball, and with the Dodgers aiming to repeat as champions, he’s poised to play an even larger role in his sophomore season.
After playing seven seasons with Nippon Professional Baseball’s Orix Buffaloes, Yamamoto signed with the Dodgers on a 12-year, $325-million deal before the 2024 season. It marked the largest contract for a pitcher in Major League history, in terms of guaranteed dollars.
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Last year, Yamamoto and the Padres’ Yu Darvish made MLB history in Game 5 of the NL Division Series as the first two Japanese-born starting pitchers to face off in a postseason game -- and Yamamoto has the chance to make more history in Tokyo, as no MLB Opening Day matchup has featured two Japanese-born starting pitchers.
Yamamoto, along with interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda, sat down with MLB.com to discuss the Tokyo Series, what he’s looking forward to in 2025 and more.
MLB.com: It was announced that you would start Game 1 of the Tokyo Series, your first Opening Day start. What would it mean to you to have that honor?
Yamamoto: It’s an honor to pitch at the opening game in Tokyo. This is my second year in the big leagues, so I’m hoping to have a season where I can live up to the expectations.
MLB.com: Between the Dodgers and Cubs, there are a lot of talented players from Japan who are going to be playing in Tokyo: you, Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki, Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga. What’ll it be like to have all five of you at the Tokyo Series?
Yamamoto: I think it’s amazing. It’s a testament to the Japanese players who have come before me, building a foundation that raised the bar for other Japanese players. I think that has led to having five Japanese players in this series.
MLB.com: In some ways, you’ve been a bit of a pioneer as well, with the contract that you signed and last postseason, when you and Darvish faced each other. That could happen again if you and Imanaga both start on Opening Day. Does it mean something that you might be someone who future Japanese players look up to?
Yamamoto: That’s hard to say. I’m doing the best I can [in the game], but I hope I can be a good influence in many ways through my performance.
MLB.com: How much do you think fans in Japan will be excited to see you again, and the other Japanese players from the Dodgers and Cubs?
Yamamoto: I think Japanese fans are very excited. I was in Japan during the offseason and it was always a topic of conversation with my friends and on TV. I realized how much attention it was getting while I was there.
MLB.com: What are you most looking forward to in the Tokyo Series, and being with your teammates in Tokyo?
Yamamoto: Japan has many types of amazing food that I hope my teammates can enjoy, and I hope that I can enjoy it with them.
MLB.com: Do you have a favorite kind of food that you want to share with them, or any restaurants that you want to take them to?
Yamamoto: I like sushi, and it’s an iconic food of Japan. I’d like everyone to try the sushi in Japan.
MLB.com: What would you say your biggest goal in baseball is this season?
Yamamoto: Of course, being a world champion. We were able to accomplish that last year together as a team and I’d like for us to experience that again this season.
More exclusive content is available in the MLB Tokyo Series Official Program, which is on Sale at Tokyo Dome, Miyashita Park and Skytree.