If you are keeping tabs on the Cy Young race, there is a name you might want to pencil in at the top. It’s none other than Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Los Angeles Dodgers ‘ star import from Japan is no longer in the MLB adjusting period. He owns the space now. On Friday night, he put out a classic case of why is capable enough to win the Cy Young race.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto scored six scoreless innings and struck out nine. He even gave up two hits and a single walk against the Chicago Cubs. It might be one of his cleanest performances to date. And he made everything look super simple. Even when the Cubs got a runner to third in the fourth inning, Yamamoto didn’t flinch. He simply struck out our Michael Busch with a splitter and walked off the mound like it was just another day at the office.
That’s the kind of composure and confidence fans hoped for—and he simply won over them. Not just fans, but even his teammate Tommy Edman, was in awe of him.
Tommy Edman on Yoshinobu Yamamoto:
“He’s unreal. He’s been dominant pretty much the whole season. I’m just kind of in awe for how well he executes. He’s just lights out and he’s been our best pitcher this year.” pic.twitter.com/r37N0FPHy9
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) April 12, 2025
Tommy Edman who had a front-row seat to this stellar performance by Yamamoto, couldn’t help but rave about him. He called him “unreal.” Edman also said, “He’s been dominant pretty much the whole season. I’m just kind of in awe of how well he executes. He’s just lights out, and he’s been our best pitcher this year.” And it’s hard to argue with the $74 million Dodger star here. Because Yamamoto sits at a 2-1 record with a 1.23 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 28 innings. He is playing at just another level.
However, Edman himself put out a lights-out performance. He smashed a three-run homer in the sixth inning and gave LA the offensive power they needed. Shohei Ohtani, meanwhile, went 0-for-4, ending his 14-game on-base streak. But in the end, the Dodgers still won 3-0. And Dave Roberts couldn’t be happier.
Talking about Yoshinobu Yamamoto, he said, “You have hitters guessing. It’s just a split that’s a strike, then it’s a ball that’s a swing and miss or a strikeout there. There’s a good fastball that’s commanded, and that’s a lot like Hideo. He doesn’t have the tornado delivery, but it’s a lot like that.” Well, the Dodgers sure are on a roll and are now unbeaten in seven of their home games this season.
And teams should watch out for Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Because he is showing no signs of stopping!
Yoshinobu Yamamoto opens up about Cy Young award
Everyone is in on the conversation about Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Cy Young chances. And he isn’t shying away from it. Yamamoto had said in Japanese, “I’ve heard no Japanese pitcher has won it yet, so I’m awfully interested in it. I think that concentrating on each and every game and performing at my best is what will lead to a wonderful award like that.” While that sounds like a simple and humble answer, it underlines something more important. It shows a huge shift that has happened from the pitcher he was last year in the MLB to now. He is more confident, and a reflection of his former self now. His previous Orix Buffaloes teammate and now a reporter for Fuji TV, Yu Suzuki, will agree.
Suzuki mentioned, “He’s starting to look like the Yoshinobu who pitched in Japan.” And everyone does require some time to adjust. Plus, throughout the injury-plagued season that Yamamoto had, Suzuki has mentioned time and again that the spark would return. And voila, it has. Suzuki also mentioned how Yamamoto is throwing several types of pitches, making it tough for the hitters. “This year, he’s mixing in his cutter or two-seamer more. Take tonight. He got a strikeout with a 95-mph two-seamer,” said Suzuki. But well, that’s what made Yamamoto win the Most Valuable Player in Japan three times.
However, this is not even the 26-year-old’s best. As Suzuki mentioned, the pitch count is still a little high. He went 103 in six innings, and in Japan, he’d go about eight or nine on 110 pitches. But it only means he has another gear to kick. This is a really exciting time for the Los Angeles Dodgers fans. Because this is just April, and almost the entire team looks on fire now.
Do you think that this time the championship is yet again in the Dodgers name? Let us know!
The post Dodgers’ $74M Star in Awe of Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Insane Dominance Amid Surging Cy Young Buzz appeared first on EssentiallySports.
