Yoshinobu Yamamoto Stats Age Height

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a famous Japanese baseball pitcher who rose to fame in his home country while playing with the Orix Buffaloes. Yoshinobu Yamamoto posted an ERA of 1.72 over seven seasons and won the Pacific League Most Valuable Player title thrice. Yamamoto also played for Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and won.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto born on August 17, 1998, is a celebrated Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the Orix Buffaloes of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Yoshinobu Yamamoto is 25 years old and was born on 17 August 1998. Yoshinobu Yamamoto has come to America from Japan to play in Major League Baseball and has the potential to make a big impact. Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s height is 5 feet 10 inches (about 178 cm) tall. His agent is Joel Wolfe who is with the Wasserman Agency. Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s statistical data shows that he is an exceptional pitcher and many teams in MLB are interested in signing him.

He debuted in 2017 and has since become a three-time Pacific League Most Valuable Player, Eiji Sawamura Award winner, and the first in professional baseball history to win the Triple Crown in three consecutive years. Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s pitching style features a powerful fastball averaging 95 mph, a deceptive splitter, cutter, and curveball, with exceptional control and command. Internationally, Yamamoto has represented Japan in various tournaments, including the 2019 WBSC Premier12, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where Japan won gold, and the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Scouting Report

Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s scouting report shows his great pitching abilities. Recognized as Japan’s best pitcher, Yamamoto excelled in Nippon Professional Baseball with an ERA of 1.82 and won the Sawamura Award three times. He is short in stature with a height of 5 feet 10 inches and a weight of 176 pounds but his frame is strong and he has a deep and powerful arsenal.

His fastball travels 94–96 mph and can reach 99 mph. His primary secondary pitch is an 88-91 mph splitter that adds depth and forces players to bowl weak. He has excellent control and the ability to make quick adjustments during the game. He will have to get used to pitching every five days for a successful transition to MLB, but he has the ability and aspirations to do so. In his scouting grades, his fastball, curveball, slider, splitter, and control all received 60 points.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Career

Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s professional baseball career is marked by outstanding achievements and significant milestones. Here is a detailed overview:

Early Career and Rise to Prominence

• Debut: Yamamoto made his debut in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) with the Orix Buffaloes on August 20, 2017, just three days after his 19th birthday.
• 2021 Season: He finished the 2021 season with an impressive 18–5 record, 206 strikeouts, and an earned run average (ERA) of 1.39 over 193+2⁄3 innings pitched, leading the league in ERA. This performance earned him the Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award.
• 2022 Season: On June 18, 2022, he threw a no-hitter, the fourth of that year in NPB and the 97th in its history. His 2022 season ended with a 15–5 record, 1.68 ERA, and 205 strikeouts in 193 innings pitched. He won the Eiji Sawamura Award for the second consecutive year and his second consecutive pitching Triple Crown.
• 2023 Season: Yamamoto threw his second career no-hitter on September 9, 2023, making him the first pitcher in NPB history to achieve no-hitters in consecutive seasons. He finished the season with a 16-6 record, 1.21 ERA, and 169 strikeouts in 164 innings pitched​​​​.

Awards and Recognition

• Triple Crown: Yamamoto has won three consecutive Triple Crowns (2021-2023), a feat achieved by leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts.
• Eiji Sawamura Award: He has won this prestigious award, given to the top starting pitcher in NPB, three years in a row, joining the legendary Masaichi Kaneda as one of the only players to accomplish this​​​​.
• International Success: Yamamoto also shone in international competitions. He was instrumental in Japan’s victory at the 2023 World Baseball Classic and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he won gold medals and was named to the All-Olympic Team​​.

Transition to Major League Baseball

• MLB Posting: Following his remarkable achievements in Japan, Yamamoto was posted to Major League Baseball (MLB) by the Orix Buffaloes. He attracted significant interest from several high-profile MLB teams.
• Contract with the Dodgers: Ultimately, Yamamoto agreed to a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, making him one of the most sought-after pitchers in MLB​​.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s career thus far is characterized by remarkable success, both in the NPB and on the international stage. His move to the MLB is highly anticipated, and he is expected to continue his impressive performance in this new chapter of his career.

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