Yoshinobu Yamamoto is going to represent the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game as part of the pitching staff for the National League team.
While the starting position players in both leagues are decided after two rounds of fan voting, the process by which reserve players and pitchers are added to the All-Star roster differs. The pitching staff and reserves for both sides are determined through player ballot choices and selections made by the commissioner’s office.
Freddie Freeman (first base), Will Smith (catcher), Tommy Edman (second base), Max Muncy (third base), Mookie Betts (shortstop), Teoscar Hernández (outfield) and Andy Pages (outfield) were Dodgers who advanced as All-Star Game finalists.
Shohei Ohtani earned the automatic starting spot as designated hitter by virtue of receiving the most votes for any NL player in Phase 1.
The All-Star Game selection is the first Yamamoto’s MLB career in just his second season since coming over from Japan. While pitching in Nippon Professional Baseball, Yamamoto earned five All-Star selections. The Dodgers signed Yamamoto to 12-year, $325 million contract in December 2023.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts advocated for the right-hander to be chosen as an All-Star prior to the final selection.
“Oh, yeah. He’s an All-Star. Started off ablaze, then he kind of simmered a little bit,” Roberts said last week. “The last two have been pretty good, certainly the one in Colorado was really good.
“So absolutely he’s one of the top whatever pitchers that need to be on an All-Star roster. For sure.”
Dodgers pitchers to start All-Star Game
As the NL manager, it remains to be seen who Roberts chooses as the starting pitcher for the Midsummer Classic, but Yamamoto is sure to be in consideration. Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, managing the NL team last year, named Pittsburg Pirates rookie Paul Skenes as the starter.
If chosen, Yamamoto would be the first Dodgers pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Clayton Kershaw did so in 2022 at Dodger Stadium. Since 2000, the Dodgers have had four pitchers named starting pitcher of an All-Star Game.
The group includes, Brad Penny in 2006, Zack Greinke in 2015, Hyun-jin Ryu in 2019, and Kershaw in 2022.
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