Yoshinobu Yamamoto is feeling good after his spring debut, even if the results didn’t necessarily show it. The Dodgers’ ace threw 30 pitches in Saturday’s 15-2 rout of the Angels, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits while striking out three.
It was his first of likely two tune-ups before joining Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic.
“I was looking for some stuff I needed to get back before I go back to Japan and join the team,” Yamamoto said, via MLB.com, through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “I was looking forward to the feeling, the delivery and those things.”
Dodgers Ace ‘Feeling Good’ After Spring Debut
Yamamoto breezed through the first inning, striking out two on 12 pitches. But he had an extended break during the Dodgers’ six-run second inning and was not as dominant upon returning to the mound. In the bottom half of the inning, Yamamoto allowed two runs on three runs around a fielding error by left fielder Teoscar Hernandez. With his pitch count rising, he was replaced with two outs in the inning by Antonio Knowles.
While Yamamoto has limited time to ramp up before WBC pool play begins on March 5, the right-hander insists he’s where he needs to be.
“I was already feeling good,” Yamamoto said. “And then somehow I was able to carry that to today’s game, especially the first inning. I think I was great, but due to the gap between innings, that affected me a bit.”
Yamamoto told reporters that he’ll pitch once more for Los Angeles before departing for Japan, likely Friday against the Giants in Arizona.
Yamamoto Building Up Slowly in Camp
Yamamoto is building back up after a shortened offseason. The 27-year-old was the only Dodgers pitcher not to miss a start last season. He threw 173.2 innings during the regular season, then shouldered another big workload during the postseason when he won Games 2, 6 and 7 of the World Series against the Blue Jays. His final appearance came on zero days’ rest and helped him lock up World Series MVP.
As the Dodgers seek a third-straight title, manager Dave Roberts has cautioned Yamamoto to take care of his body.
“It’s kind of every day, it’s from the day we signed him, how intentional he is about his work and his body care,” Roberts said. “I just know that he’s not going to put himself in harm’s way in any way.”
Dodgers Star Yoshinobu Yamamoto Sends Strong Message on Spring Debut