By Manuel Acevedo
Dec 27, 2023, 18:57 PM EST
The Los Angeles Dodgers have made great moves in this free agency and a few days ago it was confirmed that the team hired Asian pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The deal was closed for 12 years and $325 million dollars
The Californian team officially presented the Japanese player at Dodger Stadium in a press conference, after information was leaked that the right-hander had reached an agreement with the organization.
At the press conference they showed the Japanese player with the team shirt with the number 18 on his back, a number he used both in the World Baseball Classic and on his previous team.
Yamamoto was the most coveted pitcher in free agency and that is why there was a lot of expectation about where he was going to play. After this presentation, the Dodgers present one of the most complete rotations in the Major Leagues
It should be noted that this will be the first experience outside the Japanese Baseball League and that is why many experts think that the contract they told the 25-year-old pitcher is too big for him not to have played in the Major Leagues.
“I’m excited to wear the Dodger blue jersey and can’t wait to pitch in a Dodger Stadium full of fans,” Yamamoto said.
In the 2023 season, he won a total of 16 games, lost 6 games, 1.21 ERA, 169 strikeouts, 28 walks, 27 runs allowed and 0.884 WHIP.
“I would like to thank everyone in the Orix organization, the Dodgers organization and everyone close to me who has been so supportive during this free agency process. “I’m really excited to wear Dodger Blue and I can’t wait to play in front of a packed Dodger Stadium,” said the 25-year-old.
One of the things that has stood out the most in the pitcher’s young career is that at his young age he has already managed to win three awards for the Most Valuable Player of the Japanese Baseball League.
“You don’t win three MVP awards at the age of 25 without an exceptional combination of talent, work ethic and mental toughness,” said Dodgers president Andrew Friedman.
He added: “He is an elite pitcher with an impressive dedication to his craft who will only become more dynamic in a Dodgers uniform. We are delighted that he will be a mainstay at the top of our starting rotation for years to come.”
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