Yoshinobu Yamamoto is likely to be the perfect pitcher alive proper now. That’s who he’s, and it’s why he’s getting a 12-year, $325 million deal from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
If that appears hyperbolic to you, then you definitely’ve come to the appropriate place. You wish to know who Yamamoto is and why he’s in a position to afford the guacamole at Chipotle prefer it’s no massive deal. He’s by no means thrown a pitch within the majors; how can he be the perfect pitcher alive?
To be honest, that “is likely to be” is doing quite a lot of work. Gerrit Cole is a marvel, and so is Zack Wheeler. You possibly can scroll by this checklist of the very best WARs during the last three seasons and decide your private favourite for “finest pitcher alive.” Don’t neglect about Roki Sasaki, one other Nippon Skilled Baseball pitcher you’ll be very, very, very, very accustomed to at the moment subsequent season.
However Yamamoto is within the dialog, and that’s why he acquired the contract he did. Let’s get to know Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
What did Yamamoto do in Japan?
OK, examine this out: In 2017, he had a 2.35 ERA for the Orix Buffaloes. He had a .750 successful share. He struck out 5 batters for each batter he walked. He allowed 0.5 homers per 9 innings pitched.
That was his worst season within the NPB. Additionally, he was an 18-year-old rookie. That partial season was most likely his nadir as knowledgeable thus far.
As for the remainder of the seasons, his profession ERA within the NPB is 1.72, if that provides you some concept. He’s allowed 36 homers over his seven-season profession. That’s fewer homers than eight totally different MLB Corridor of Famers have allowed in a season. In his 2023 season, Yamamoto threw 171 innings and allowed two dwelling runs. Not a typo.
His profession numbers:
1.72 profession ERA
.714 successful share
75-30 W-L report
9.2 Okay/9
2.0 BB/9
0.3 HR/9
Yamamoto turned 25 in August. So if the frequent preconception is that the NPB is “Quadruple-A” by way of its expertise, someplace between the majors and Triple A, what do you make of a pitcher of prospect age who does that when he’s in his early 20s?
You give him a $325 million contract, that’s what you do.
What does Yamamoto throw?
Pitches. Principally good ones. Ones that get outs, miss bats and forestall dwelling runs.
However when you’re on the lookout for specifics, our personal Eno Sarris has you lined, and he took a deep dive.
First, word his compact movement. He’s not bringing that proper arm all the best way again, at the very least not but. When he does, it’s to get him into Tim Lincecum territory, with the ball held towards the bottom at a 90-degree angle.
山本由伸 159キロストレート＆129キロカーブ😵
今日最速の159キロで押し込んでから
外ギリギリにボールゾーンから下って来るカーブを曲げ込み見逃し三振 pic.twitter.com/K6nbXvcXur— tanaka13ver2023 (@tanaka13ver2021) October 28, 2023
However when it’s time to return to the plate, that proper arm comes up rapidly and turns into an ultra-short movement. He helps his mid-to-upper-90s fastball appear even sooner, as you possibly can inform by the emergency swing above.
This video does a superb job breaking down how he will get that velocity, in addition to his different pitches:
Again to Sarris’ article, although. Listed here are his notes on Yamamoto’s particular pitches, based mostly on the StatCast numbers that he posted within the World Baseball Basic:
• A four-seam fastball that’s adequate to be a top-20 fastball within the majors
• The nastiest splitter on this planet
• An elite curveball
• A cutter that’s superb, however wants work
All of that may be very thrilling, however it wouldn’t work as properly if he couldn’t command the place these pitches are going. Excellent news, then: His command is freaky elite. He’s pumping above-average fastballs, world-class splitters and elite curveballs the place he desires to throw them, usually. The stuff-command combo offers him an opportunity to be particular, proper from Opening Day.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Vicious Curveball. 😤
Some of the distinctive curveball releases. pic.twitter.com/1RENxkObab
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 12, 2023
Are there any good major-league comparisons for Yamamoto?
Kevin Gausman is an OK one, due to the fastball-splitter combo, however it breaks down once you get to the third pitch. Gausman provides a show-me slider, whereas Yamamoto can go to that elite curveball.
Roy Oswalt had an identical stature (listed at 6-foot-0, however nearer to 5-foot-10, with Yamamoto listed at 5-foot-10) and he used distinctive command, management and stuff to be the most effective pitchers of his technology. However he was a real sinkerballer and never as a lot of a bat-misser.
Masahiro Tanaka is a good bit taller than Yamamoto, however he had elite command and management, and the power of his splitter-fastball combo is near what Yamamoto provides. Nonetheless, the peak and extension are nice separators between the 2.
The proper reply is that, no, there aren’t many good major-league comparisons. Gausman is the obvious one, however solely seven pitchers within the majors threw a splitter greater than 15 p.c of the time final season: Gausman, Alex Cobb, Taijuan Walker, Kenta Maeda, Nathan Eovaldi, Joe Ryan and Tony Gonsolin. None of them seem to be nice comparisons, although. Yamamoto is sui generis, and comparisons aren’t very helpful. Gausman or Eovaldi are most likely the perfect comps, although. Contemplating that each of them are former All-Stars with some Cy Younger Award votes of their previous, that appears good.
What’s Yamamoto like as an individual?
English-language reviews from the Japan Instances and Japan Information have him as a participant whom coaches liked and somebody who tailored extraordinarily properly to the NPB, regardless of being a youngster. He likes soft-serve ice cream with soy sauce, which sounds wonderful. He’s within the salty-sweet membership, like everybody on this planet ought to be. He desires to go to Brazil. His favourite meals is squid. His favourite coloration is pink, which may result in quite a lot of baseless rumors if the appropriate individual tweeted it.
Apart from that, he’s one thing of a buttoned-down thriller. I did discover this TikTok of him and made it right into a GIF, although.
Appears essential.
There aren’t any ensures in baseball, particularly for pitchers. Arms are jerks.
However in the case of the sorts of gambles that groups ought to take? Right here’s the most effective you’ll find. He’s the age of a prospect with the resume of a future Corridor of Famer, at the very least in Japan. Now that groups are adept at analyzing pitches and pitch shapes and all of that jazz, they’ve come to the conclusion that this dude can pitch. And he represents a uncommon alternative, contemplating his age. For those who’re questioning who Yoshinobu Yamamoto is, don’t fear. You’ll be very, very acquainted quickly sufficient.
(High illustration by John Bradford / The Athletic; Pictures by Lucas Stevenson and Eric Espada / Getty Photographs)