Yoshinobu Yamamoto made his highly anticipated Los Angeles Dodgers Spring Training debut on Wednesday and put together a stellar performance at Surprise Stadium.
The right-hander allowed just one hit and collected three strikeouts over two scoreless innings while facing the minimum. He threw 19 pitches in the outing, 16 of which were strikes.
“I was trying to just do my job, stay calm and focus on what I have to do from the get-go,” Yamamoto said after the game through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda.
Expectations are high for the 25-year-old this season and he is happy to get his first start with the Dodgers out of the way. “I’m kind of relieved. Let’s see how I do as I get more innings,” he said.
“It’s a Spring Training game and there were going to be some nerves, so just tried to stay calm.”
Yamamoto had all of his pitches on display against the Texas Rangers, including his high-90s fastball, curveball, cutter and splitter. “Certainly very efficient today and no surprise that he controlled his emotions,” manager Dave Roberts said of the pitcher’s performance.
“I’m sure he was very excited, but you couldn’t tell it. He was out there, a professional, attacking, and he got a chance to use his fastball, the split, slider, curveball. He was really good.
“He was going to go back out there in the third inning just to throw a couple pitches, but he said he felt good.”
Shohei Ohtani critiqued Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Ohtani was among the Dodgers who made the trip to Surprise, Arizona, to watch Yamamoto’s first Spring Training start. Ohtani going on the road isn’t typical for a player not in the lineup.
“I was very happy because I never thought he would come,” Yamamoto said of Ohtani.
Further indication of the strong friendship they share, Ohtani offered a modest opinion of Yamamoto’s performance. “I was so-so,” Yamamoto relayed with a laugh when asked what Ohtani said about his outing.
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