Dodgers Fans Proclaim ‘Yoshinobu Yamamoto Stinks’ After Rookie Gets Lit Up Again
Remember the Los Angeles Dodgers’ incredible offseason spending spree? It wasn’t just Shohei Ohtani headlining the new acquisitions in Chavez Ravine: there was also Japanese superstar pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The Dodgers made Yamamoto the highest-paid starting pitcher of all-time, if you don’t count the two-way player, Ohtani. They signed him to a 12-year $325 million contract.
And, who could blame them? Just 25-years-old, Yoshinobu Yamamoto had already won three-straight pitching triple crowns (wins, ERA, strikeouts) in the NPB, the second-best baseball league in the world. His stuff played too, with a mid-90’s fastball and electric breaking stuff.
It’s not like the Dodgers were the only team offering him big money. Other big market clubs like the Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox were in on Yamamoto.
Yes, it’s early, but the returns are not good. Coming into his fifth start of the year against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium on Friday night, he came in with a 4.50 ERA in 16 innings.
