Orix Buffaloes “Super Ace” Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 25, has once again been recognized as the best pitcher in Japanese professional baseball. The Sawamura Award Selection Committee announced on Tuesday that it has selected Yamamoto as the 2023 winner. This is the third consecutive year he has won the award since 2021.
Yamamoto started 23 games this season, posting 16 wins, a 1.21 ERA, 169 strikeouts, and a 7-2 record. It was the first time in program history that he won four awards in consecutive years. His 1.21 ERA was his lowest since debuting in 2017.
The Sawamura Award is given to the top pitcher of the year. The selection committee evaluated Yamamoto and Yokohama BayStars left-hander Katsuki Azuma (28). Azuma had the same 16 wins (3 losses) as Yamamoto. He also had a winning percentage of 8.44-2, which was better than Yamamoto’s. However, Yamamoto’s wall was too high.주소
Yamamoto met four of the seven criteria for the Sawamura Award (15 wins, 150 strikeouts, 10 complete games, 2.50 ERA, 200 innings, 25 starts, and a winning percentage of 6 percent). Only 23 games, 164 innings, and two complete games, but dominant in other categories
Orix ace Yamamoto will start Game 1 of the Final Stage against Chiba Lotte on Sept. 18. Yamamoto threw a no-hitter against Chiba Lotte on Sept. 9. Photo credit: Oryx Buffaloes SNS
Yamamoto completed his no-hitter against the Chiba Lotte Marines on September 9 at Chiba Marine Stadium. This is the second consecutive year he has achieved the feat.
Led by ace Yamamoto, the Oryx finished first in the Pacific League for the third straight year and advanced to the Japan Series for the third straight year. They are looking to win their second straight Japan Series title.
A third title would be their fifth in 27 years. It would be the second time in 65 years and the first time in history since Masaichi Kaneda from 1956-1958.
