The Dodgers formally introduced new starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the world on Wednesday, and the team couldn’t be more excited. Yamamoto gives them an ace-level starter that can headline the rotation for years to come. Coming over to...
The Dodgers formally introduced new starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the world on Wednesday, and the team couldn’t be more excited. Yamamoto gives them an ace-level starter that can headline the rotation for years to come.
Coming over to the United States, Yamamoto’s goal is to win on the biggest stage. Playing in Los Angeles gives him that opportunity, and he can focus on winning the World Series with this team.
Yamamoto found much success while playing in Japan, and now he wants to bring that with him to Major League Baseball. As he began the press conference, he promised the fans of the Dodgers that he would focus on becoming a World Champion with the franchise.
“I promise to all the fans of L.A. that I will focus my everything to become a better player and to become a World Champion as a member of the Dodgers.”
Yamamoto simply felt the Dodgers presented him with the chance to win at the highest level. Out of all the teams vying for his services, L.A. was the only one who could offer him a legitimate chance to win the World Series every season.
The Dodgers have made the postseason 11 straight seasons, so Yamamoto likely felt the addition of not only himself, but Shohei Ohtani, could keep that going. Ohtani’s decision to have massive deferrals in his contract also played a role in Yamamoto signing with L.A.
It showed a commitment to winning from the players on the roster, which was something that resonated with the starting pitcher.
Having Yamamoto on the roster gives the Dodgers one of the best rotations in the game today, and a trusted arm at the top of the staff. The front office turned a weakness of the team into a strength in a matter of weeks.
The Dodgers are banking on Yamamoto living up to the hype, and the two sides winning multiple titles together. Yamamoto, who had several teams lining up to sign him, is banking on the Dodgers helping him do the same.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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