Japan’s best pitcher is headed to the major leagues. The Orix Buffaloes have approved the posting of Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The American media has been buzzing about Yamamoto’s arrival, calling it “big news in baseball”. The posting period is 45 days, and a fierce bidding war is expected for Japan’s top free agent.
MLB Network reporter John Morosi tweeted on April 21 that “big news just dropped in the baseball world,” referring to Yamamoto’s post. According to Morosi, Yamamoto will have 45 days from 8 a.m. ET on Nov. 21 to 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 4 of next year to negotiate with major league teams during the posting process. “I can’t wait,” Moroshi said, adding that he’s looking forward to the battle for Yamamoto.
Yamamoto is no stranger to Korean baseball fans through recent international competitions. He was a set-up man in the 2019 Premier12 and has been the ace of the Japanese national team since the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 2021. At the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March this year, he was part of a strong Japanese starting lineup alongside Shohei Ohtani (free agent), Darvish Yu (San Diego Padres), and Roki Sasaki (Chiba Lotte Marines).
Winning the Sawamura Award for the third year in a row illustrates Yamamoto’s stature. Yamamoto pitched 164 innings in 23 games, ranking first in ERA (1.21), tied for first in wins (16), and second in strikeouts (169) in both leagues combined.
Combined, they pitched 164 innings in 23 games, ranking first in ERA (1.21), tied for first in wins (16), and second in strikeouts (169). His dominant performance earned him the Sawamura Award for only the second time in history for three consecutive years. From 1956 to 1958, Masaichi Kaneda (Korean name Kim Kyung-hong) won the Sawamura Award for three consecutive years, ahead of Yamamoto. Kaneda is a legendary pitcher who holds the record for most career wins in Nippon Professional Baseball with 400. 아톰카지노 주소
In what could have been his last game for the Orix, he pitched a nine-inning complete game victory over the Hanshin Tigers in Game 6 of the Japan Series on April 4. He threw a whopping 138 pitches and struck out 14. Yamamoto broke the record for most strikeouts in a single game in the Japan Series, leading his team to a 5-1 victory. The previous record was held by Darvish Yu with 13 strikeouts.
Japan’s Sportshochi broke the news of Yamamoto’s application for the post on Nov. 21, stating, “The agent is Joel Wolf of the Wachaman Group, which represents Darvish and Senga Godai (New York Mets). Yamamoto is said to be heading directly to the U.S., and there is a possibility that he will sit down at the negotiating table immediately.”
“According to local media reports in the U.S., Yamamoto is the second most sought-after player in the offseason transfer market after Ohtani. Deep-pocketed clubs such as the New York Yankees, Mets, and Los Angeles Dodgers have been mentioned as possible destinations. The World Series champion Texas Rangers, their arch-rivals the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Detroit Tigers have also been mentioned as possible suitors.”
“Yamamoto’s youthful age of 25 has set the stage for a fierce battle,” Sportshochi added, “and his total salary is expected to reach $200 million, surpassing the seven-year, $155 million contract of Masahiro Tanaka (now with the Rakuten Golden Eagles), who joined the Yankees in 2015.”
