Yoshinobu Yamamoto has an Abysmal Dodgers Debut Against the Padres

The Dodger had arguable the best off-season out of any team signing the two biggest free agents on the board in Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Most fans believed these two signing meant a guaranteed World Series win for the team since adding the best player in the world in Ohtani plus Yamamoto to an already staked lineup could only mean gold.

Unfortunately, Yamamoto's first start did not go as planned since he allowed 5 runs in the first inning. He allowed 4 hits, 5 runs and had 2 strikeouts in his only inning pitched. The Dodgers would eventually battle back but would lose the game 15-11.

Yamamoto spoke to the media following the loss in which he claimed he had a hard time executing his pitches but knows what he needs to do to fix it. Additionally, he added that he will be working with his pitching coaches to fix his problems.

Yamamoto started playing in the Nippon Professional Baseball in 2017, playing for the Orix Buffaloes in the Pacific League. His standout performance in the 2021 season included an impressive 18�5 record with 206 strikeouts over 193+2⁄3 innings pitched, boasting a league-leading 1.39 earned run average for that season. This outstanding performance earned him the prestigious Pacific League Most Valuable Player Award.

In 2022, on June 18, Yamamoto pithed his first no-hitter against the Saitama Seibu Lions, marking the 97th no-hitter in NPB history. He continued to shine with a 15�5 record and a remarkable 1.68 ERA in 26 starts for the Orix that year.

The following year, on September 9, 2023, Yamamoto achieved another milestone by throwing his second career no-hitter against the Chiba Lotte Marines, becoming the first pitcher in NPB history to achieve consecutive season no-hitters.

The Los Angeles Dodgers secured Yamamoto's talent with a groundbreaking 12-year, $325 million contract on December 27, 2023, also paying a hefty $50.625 million posting fee to his former NPB team for his rights.