In a stunning revelation throughout his Dodgers introductory press convention, Yoshinobu Yamamoto shared that whereas Shohei Ohtani’s presence added pleasure to his signing, he would have nonetheless chosen the Dodgers even when the 29-year-old had signed with one other crew.
“Even if he ended up somewhere else, I probably would’ve ended up in LA as a Dodger.” – Yoshinobu Yamamoto acknowledged emphasizing his dedication to the historic franchise.
Yamamoto expressed gratitude in direction of stars like Shohei Ohtani, who performed a task in negotiating his personal contract to facilitate the crew’s capacity to signal him.
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The 25-year-old pitcher additionally addressed the affect of previous Japanese pitchers within the Dodgers’ stadium, citing a playoff recreation he attended on the age of 19, the place Kenta Maeda’s efficiency strengthened his resolve to affix the MLB.
“I wouldn’t say that was the sole reason but when I was 19 I did end up coming to watch a playoff game here, and in that game Maeda did throw and it did really make me feel more strong about coming to the MLB.”
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was some of the sought-after free brokers in baseball historical past
The LA Dodgers formally introduced the signing of Yamamoto to a groundbreaking 12-year, $325 million contract, solidifying their pitching employees’s star energy. Yamamoto, the twelfth Japanese-born participant in Dodgers historical past, comes with a powerful observe report from his dominant years in Japan, together with three Pacific League MVPs and Sawamura Awards.
Whereas not bodily imposing in peak, Yamamoto boasts a formidable repertoire, that includes a mid-90s fastball, a devastating split-fingered fastball, a pointy curve, and a lower fastball. Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman praised Yamamoto’s distinctive mixture of expertise, work ethic, and psychological toughness, predicting his impression as a mainstay within the crew’s beginning rotation.
Yamamoto’s determination to affix the Dodgers, regardless of Ohatani’s crew affiliation, underscores the franchise’s attract and popularity in attracting prime expertise. The Dodgers, having secured each Ohtani and Yamamoto in a span of two weeks, have bolstered their dedication to assembling a championship-caliber crew, making them a formidable power within the upcoming seasons.
Yamamoto’s signing not solely provides depth to the Dodgers’ pitching employees but additionally cements their place as a most popular vacation spot for elite gamers seeking to make a mark within the Main Leagues.
