Yoshinobu Yamamoto Dominates in Final Japan Series Start Ahead of MLB Free Agency
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is poised to be one of the most coveted free agents in baseball this winter, as the Japanese star pitcher makes the move to MLB. In his final Nippon Professional Baseball game on Saturday, he offered a glimpse as to why.
With his team trailing 3-2 in the Japan Series, Yamamoto got the start for the Orix Buffaloes in an attempt to force a Game 7. The 25-year-old right-hander proceeded to throw nine innings, allowing just one run on nine hits while throwing 138 pitches to secure the victory. Yamamoto also struck out 14 batters in the game, breaking Yu Darvish’s record for a single Japan Series game.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto just pitched a complete game on 138 pitches in his last start before becoming an MLB free agent
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) November 4, 2023
He had 14 strikeouts, breaking Yu Darvish's Japan Series record pic.twitter.com/SleSD0Kl4c
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s line in Game 6 of the Japan Series, his final start as a Buffalo
— Yakyu Cosmopolitan (@yakyucosmo) November 4, 2023
9.0 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 14 K, 138 P
The ace of Samurai Japan pitched a stellar gem to force game 7 despite some traffic on the bases early on, setting a new Japan Series record for strikeouts pic.twitter.com/6b0w1MrCJ4
Yamamoto has played in the NPB since 2017, spending his entire career with the Buffaloes. The phenom has produced three consecutive seasons with an ERA under 2.00 and a career ERA of 1.72 in 188 games. Last spring, Yamamoto pitched for team Japan in the World Baseball Classic, allowing two runs on four hits in 7 1/3 innings.
The right-hander is making the move to the United States following a decorated career in Japan. Yamamoto has won three straight Eiji Sawamura Awards, NPB’s version of the Cy Young, and two straight Pacific League MVPs, with a third MVP possible this year. If the Buffaloes can win Game 7 on Sunday, Yamamoto will become a two-time Japan Series champion.
With the MLB offseason about to start, Yamamoto will be highly coveted by teams looking for starting pitching.