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Associated Press
Feb 28, 2024, 04:30 PM ET
SURPRISE, Ariz.– Even Shohei Ohtani was interested by Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s exhibit launching Wednesday, making the 30-minute drive through Phoenix suburban areas in a white convertible to reveal his assistance for a fellow Japanese star, despite the fact that he wasn’t playing in the video game.
Yamamoto placed on rather a program.
The 25-year-old set out 3 batters over 2 scoreless innings versus the safeguarding World Series promote Texas Rangers, offering a peek into why the Los Angeles Dodgers think the right-hander can end up being a major league ace.
“I was simply attempting to do my task, attempting to remain calm and concentrate on what I need to do,” Yamamoto stated through an interpreter.
Yamamoto opened by starting out All-Star Marcus Semien on 6 pitches, then quit Evan Carter’s single before Wyatt Langford grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Yamamoto began the 2nd by starting out Nathaniel Lowe on 3 pitches and retiring Jonah Heim on a flyout to left. Dealing with a long, intentional windup and a fastball that hovered in the mid-90s, Yamamoto ended his getaway by setting out Leody Taveras on 4 pitches.
“I do not believe it might have gone any much better,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “He got to utilize his whole pitch mix. He was pounding the strike zone. He got a great deal of swing and miss out on and he was effective.”
He tossed 16 of 19 pitches for strikes, revealing the remarkable command he ended up being understood for in Japan. Lowe and Taveras took especially weak swings on strike 3.
Not all worked out according to prepare for the Dodgers. Infielder Max Muncy, who signed a two-year, $24 million extension in November, suffered a contusion on his left hand after he was struck by a pitch from the Rangers’ Cody Bradford in the very first inning.
Roberts stated Muncy will go through X-rays on Thursday.
Ohtani was cheering Yamamoto’s efficiency however is obviously a hard critic. When Yamamoto was asked how Ohtani evaluated the getaway, the pitcher smiled and stated “so-so.”
Roberts stated the 2 gamers rapidly were constructing a close relationship.
“What a great colleague,” Roberts stated. “It’s something he didn’t need to do, plainly, however he wished to come here and support his colleague.”
Yamamoto has actually been the less-publicized part of a $1 billion offseason financial investment by the Dodgers into a set of Japanese stars. Los Angeles signed Shohei Ohtani to a record $700 million, 10-year agreement in December while Yamamoto settled his $325 million, 12-year offer a couple of weeks later on.
“I’ve got all assistance from my Dodgers colleagues and they’ve assisted me get accustomed,” Yamamoto stated. “It’s been simple.”
Ohtani has actually played 6 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Los Angeles Angels, winning 2 AL MVP awards and making 3 All-Star groups.
