Yoshinobu Yamamoto did not arrive in the Major Leagues as a prospect, but as an established reality. Before making the jump to Major League Baseball, the Japanese pitcher was already a true superstar in his country, where he built a historic track record with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
In Japan, Yamamoto dominated the league like few others. He won the prestigious Eiji Sawamura Award, equivalent to the Cy Young, on multiple occasions and achieved the pitching Triple Crown, confirming his status as the best arm in Japanese baseball. His talent did not go unnoticed and soon MLB teams focused their attention on him.
Immediate impact in Major League Baseball
Since his arrival in MLB, Yamamoto not only lived up to the enormous expectations, but exceeded them. In his first two seasons (2024 and 2025) with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he established himself as one of the most dominant and reliable pitchers in modern baseball.
His agent, Joel Wolfe, once described him as the “Michael Jordan of pitching”, highlighting not only his natural talent, but also his competitive mentality and ability to raise the level in moments of greatest pressure. In February 2026, Wolfe again remarked on this quality as one of the keys to the Japanese’s success.
Yamamoto, the World Series hero
One of the most memorable episodes of his career came in the 2025 World Series. Yamamoto pitched six innings in Game 6 and, far from being satisfied, asked for the ball for Game 7 as a reliever. His performance was decisive: 2.2 scoreless innings to seal the Dodgers’ championship.
That title was the second in a row for the Los Angeles team, after also being crowned in 2024. In addition, Yamamoto was named the 2025 World Series MVP, becoming only the second Japanese player in history to do so. His 1.02 ERA and a complete game in Game 2 bolstered his candidacy.
Individual consecration
In the 2025 season, Yamamoto finished third in the National League Cy Young Award voting. He led the Dodgers starters with a 2.49 ERA and 201 strikeouts, confirming his place among the pitching elite in MLB.
Key facts about Yoshinobu Yamamoto
- World Series champion in 2024 and 2025
- 2025 World Series MVP
- Cy Young finalist in 2025 (3rd place)
- Absolute dominator in the NPB with multiple Sawamura awards
- Japanese pitching reference in Major Leagues
Yamamoto not only represents the present of Japanese baseball, but also one of the figures who are marking the future of MLB.
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