Yoshinobu Yamamoto…his name combines characters from his parents’ names…sister is an English teacher in Japan…on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, has worn No. 18, traditionally the number of a Japanese pitching ace…selected in the fourth round of the NPB Draft in 2017 by Orix…is the only MLB player ever born in Bizen, Okayama Prefecture...hometown population is approximately 32,000…known for his unique training regimen that includes the regular throwing of a javelin, with the guidance of longtime biochemist/ trainer Osamu Yada (aka Yada Sensei).
2025
Threw the Dodgers’ first pitch of the season in Japan on March 18 and their last pitch of the season in Canada on Nov. 1…was the winning pitcher in each game...Kicked off the postseason with 6 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts while allowing two runs (unearned) in the second game of the Dodgers’ sweep of Cincinnati...Dominated Milwaukee in Game 2 of the NLCS with the first playoff complete game (nine innings, four baserunners, seven strikeouts) for the Dodgers since Jose Lima in 2004...Stepped up as the first pitcher since Curt Schilling in 2001 to throw back-to-back postseason complete games when he delivered another nine-inning, four-baserunner, one-run performance in World Series Game 2 in Toronto…despite this workload, warmed up during the 18th inning of Game 3 and would have entered to pitch the 19th inning had Freddie Freeman not walked it off...In an unforgettable two-night stretch, stifled the Blue Jays with six innings of one-run ball in World Series Game 6, throwing 96 pitches…then somehow came back with one out in the ninth inning of Game 7 and, in his first career relief appearance, muscled through 2.2 innings (34 pitches), giving up only one hit and one hit batter while striking out one and securing the World Series title...In addition to World Series MVP, was honored by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America with the Babe Ruth Award as postseason MVP...For his standout regular season performance, was named to the All-MLB First Team and finished third in the NL Cy Young voting behind Paul Skenes and Cristopher Sánchez...Dotted the NL leaderboards by finishing first in H/9IP (5.86), second in ERA (2.49), third in WHIP (0.99) and K/9 (10.42), fifth in HR/9 (0.73), seventh among pitchers in bWAR (4.7), tied for seventh in strikeouts (201) and 10th in K/BB (3.41)…Struck out 201 batters against 59 walks while holding batters to a .183 average...Reached 200 career strikeouts in his start against the Padres on June 19... became the fastest Japan-born pitcher to reach 200 strikeouts (174.2 IP), surpassing Yu Darvish who reached 200 strikeouts after 176.2 IP...Was named to his first All-Star team in July after going 8-7 with a 2.59 ERA (30 ER/104.1 IP) in the first half of the season…did not pitch in the game...On Sept. 6 at Baltimore, took a no-hitter all the way through two outs in the ninth inning – retiring 19 batters in a row – before Jackson Holliday homered just over the right-field wall…this was the second of three straight games with 10 strikeouts he fired from Aug. 31-Sept. 12...Awarded the National League Pitcher of the Month two times, in March/April (34 innings, 1.06 ERA, 43 strikeouts) and in September ((27 innings, 0.67 ERA, 34 strikeouts).
2024
Finished his first season in the Major Leagues with a 7-2 record and a 3.00 ERA (30 ER/90.0 IP) with 105 strikeouts against 22 walks...held batters to a .229/.275/.365 slashline...Made his Major League debut on March 21 against SD in South Korea, giving up four hits, five runs, a hit batter and a walk while striking out two in one inning...Had his best regular season start on June 7 against NYY, tossing seven scoreless innings, giving up two hits and two walks while striking out seven...Injured with a right rotator cuff strain from mid-June -Sept...Saw his first Postseason action, going 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA (8 ER/18.2IP) in four starts with 15 strikeouts...Started Game 2 of the World Series against the Yankees, tossing 6.1 one-run innings, giving up one hits, a home run and two walks while striking out four in the win.
2023
Yamamoto helped the Buffaloes win the Nippon Pacific League pennant and led them to the Japan Series Championship after going 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA and 169 strikeouts over 164 innings in 23 games...Named the Nippon Pacific League Most Valuable Player for the third straight season as he won the Japanese Pitching Triple Crown, leading the league in wins, strikeouts and ERA...Won the World Baseball Classic as a member of Team Japan, goings 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA and 12 strikeouts in two games (one start).
2022
Ended the year with a 15-5 with a 1.68 ERA (36 ER/193.0 IP) and 205 strikeouts in 26 games on his way to win his second Triple Crown.
2021
Finished the year 18-5 with a 1.39 ERA and 206 strikeouts across 193.2 innings pitched…his ERA led the league and helped him towards his first career MVP award and first Triple Crown...Made his international debut in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, leading team Japan to the Gold Medal as he went 0-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 18 strikeouts in two games...he was named to the All-Olympic team and helped his team go 5-0 in the tournament and capture its first Summer Games Olympic Gold Medal.
2020
Completed the season with an 8-4 record with a 2.20 ERA (31 ER/126.2 IP) in 18 games with 149 strikeouts against 37 walks.
2019
Wrapped up the season with an 8-7 record with a 1.99 ERA (33 ER/149.0 IP) in 21 games with an 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings rate.
2018
Ended the season 6-2 and one save with a 2.10 ERA (18 ER/77.0 IP) in 60 outings, registering a 0.948 WHIP and 69 strikeouts.
2017
Made his NPB debut on Aug. 20, 2017 for Orix three days after he turned 19...Finished the season 3-1 with a 2.35 ERA (15 ER/57.1 IP) in 13 games (five starts) with 48 strikeouts against nine walks.
