Yoshinobu Yamamoto put together a legendary performance in the postseason for the Los Angeles Dodgers this past season, which concluded with a save in Game 7 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Yamamoto currently holds the largest contract for a starting pitcher in MLB history, both in total years and total value. At just 25 years old at the time of signing with a decorated career in Japan, the Dodgers felt he was well worth the large investment, and they were proven right in 2025.
During an appearance on “Baseball & Coffee” with Adam Ottavino, Kiké Hernández described the mindset that allows Yamamoto to thrive on the mound:
“The dude is an animal. Obviously he deserves every cent that they gave him. Little guy, nicest guy in the world, but man, he’s got that ‘F-you’ when he’s on the mound. That stadium is his, and he’s shown it.”
After a solid 2024 regular season that was limited by injury, Yamamoto had a breakout year this past season. The right hander had a 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 201 strikeouts in 173.2 innings. But most importantly, he was durable throughout the season and avoided the injured list to make 30 starts.
Because of the disappointment he felt missing games in 2024, Yamamoto prioritized his health in the offseason heading into 2025. His success in this regard was an accomplishment he was extremely proud of.
Additionally, Yamamoto became the first Dodgers pitcher to reach 200 in a single season since Walker Buehler in 2021 and 2019. Prior to the Buehler, Clayton Kershaw reached 200 strikeouts in 2017.
Kiké Hernández impressed with Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s routine
Yamamoto has a unique approach to the day-to-day maintenance of his health. He does not lift weights, but rather focuses on a combination of breathing, flexibility and yoga-style drills.
He also uses javelins to train the correct throwing path and force transfer from the ground up in an effort to reduce stress on his arm. Hernández admires Yamamoto’s training routine and believes it has held up so far.
While there was an initial setback in 2024, the right-hander made 30 regular-season starts and six more appearances during the playoffs, including back-to-back outings in Games 6 and 7.
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