Born on August 17, 1998 in Bizen, Okayama, Japan, Yoshinobu Yamamoto has had a career worthy of a sports movie. At just 27 years old, the Japanese pitcher went from being a baseball prospect in his country to becoming a Major League Baseball (MLB) star.
His rise began in 2017, when he made his professional debut with the Orix Buffaloes in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league. Over seven seasons, Yamamoto recorded an astonishing 70-29 record with 922 strikeouts and a 1.82 ERA.
His absolute dominance earned him three consecutive MVP awards and three Eiji Sawamura trophies, the equivalent of the Japanese Cy Young
In 2022, he led Orix to the Japan Series title and was named the Most Valuable Player of the final. This performance attracted the attention of the Los Angeles Dodgers, one of the most powerful teams in MLB.
The record contract with the Dodgers
On December 27, 2023, the Dodgers broke the market by signing Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million contract, in addition to paying a $50.6 million transfer fee to the Orix Buffaloes. It was the largest contract in MLB history for a pitcher, a move that reflected the enormous expectation surrounding the Japanese player.
In his second season in the Major Leagues, Yamamoto has more than lived up to expectations: he has a 12-8 record, with a 2.49 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 30 starts. He was also named the National League Pitcher of the Month in September and participated in his first All-Star Game.
Yamamoto, from records to romance rumors
Yamamoto’s sporting success has also been accompanied by media attention off the field. In January 2025, rumors circulated linking him romantically with American singer Sabrina Carpenter, known for her role in Girl Meets World. However, the artist publicly denied the relationship in February, putting an end to the speculation.
At the same time, several Japanese and US media outlets have linked him to model Niki Nawa, famous for her appearances in Netflix series The Terrace House: Aloha State and Peanut Butter Sandwich. The rumors arose after they were seen together in Beverly Hills in November 2024, although neither of them has confirmed the relationship.
Niki Nawa, born in Kobe in 1996, is the daughter of a Japanese mother and an American father, and has more than 760,000 followers on Instagram. Her fame and that of Yamamoto have made them one of the most talked about couples at the moment in Japan and the United States.
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