In the midst of a crucial interleague series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals, the Dodgers received some bad news Saturday evening.
Los Angeles pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto exited Saturday’s game after pitching just two innings of what at the time was a 0–0 contest. The Dodgers attributed Yamamoto’s exit to triceps tightness.
In the two innings he pitched, Yamamoto allowed a hit, walked a batter and struck out a batter.
The rookie entered the contest 6–2 with a 3.00 ERA and 83 strikeouts in just 72 innings. As Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation pointed out, Yamamoto’s average velocity was down slightly Saturday.
On Dec. 27, Los Angeles stunned the baseball world by signing Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million contract. The pact followed a superb career in Nippon Professional Baseball that saw Yamamoto win three Pacific League MVP awards.
After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that Yamamoto would probably go on the injured list.
The Dodgers currently sit in first place in the NL West, 7 and 1/2 games clear of the second-place San Diego Padres.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto suffered a nightmare debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers after signing a record $325 million, 12-year contract.
The Dodgers landed the 25-year-old on the mammoth deal in December after a fierce battle between a number of MLB teams to sign the Japanese pitcher, who was one of the most sought-after free agents on the market.
However, the right-hander failed to back up his price tag, lasting just one inning in his debut against the San Diego Padres Thursday.
On the mound for the second game of MLB’s first-ever Seoul Series between the Dodgers and Padres, Yamamoto gave up five runs within the one inning.
He trailed 2-0 after nine pitches and needs 43 pitches to get three outs, exiting the game with a 45.00 ERA.
San Diego batted around, and Michael Grove relieved Yamamoto with the Dodgers trailing 5-1.
Yamamoto allowed four hits, walked one, hit a batter and threw a wild pitch. He threw just 23 pitches for strikes, averaging 95.4 mph with his fastball. He tried 14 fastballs, 11 cutters, 10 curveballs and eight splitters.
Xander Bogaerts singled to left on his first pitch, a 96.6 mph fastball over the heart of the plate. Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit by a full-count splitter and Jake Cronenworth tripled into the right-field corner for a 2-0 lead.
Manny Machado walked, bringing pitching coach Mark Prior to the mound 15 pitches in.
Ha-Seong Kim hit a sacrifice fly, a wild pitch advanced Machado and Jurickson Profar struck out on an inside cutter.
Luis Campusano hit a bouncer over third base that got under Max Muncy´s glove and went down the line for an RBI double and a 4-0 lead. Tyler Wade hit a run-scoring single to right and rookie Jackson Merrill struck out on an inside curveball.
The Dodgers allowed five runs in the first inning just one time last season.
Yamamoto also struggled in Spring Training, compiling a concerning 8.38 ERA in just 9.2 innings pitched over three starts.
‘I’m not really concerned about the numbers,’ a defiant Yamamoto had said through an interpreter ahead of his regular season debut but his current 45.00 ERA is bound to be a more concerning number for both the pitcher and the Dodgers.
Yamamoto was a two-time Pacific League MVP for the Orix Buffaloes. He signed his deal with the Dodgers in December, the largest amount guaranteed to a pitcher.
The Dodgers beat the likes of the New York Yankees and Mets, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies to his signature.
Reports claimed the Mets were willing to match the Dodgers’ $325m offer for 12 years but the Yankees were only willing to go as high as $300m over 10 years.
Ultimately, the Dodgers beat them all to his signature, pairing him with Shohei Ohtani, who sealed a move across Los Angeles from the Angels, signing a staggering $700m contract across 10 years.
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