I already knew that during his time in NPB, Yamamoto won the pitching Triple Crown, took Japan’s version of the Cy Young Award three years in a row, and led his team to three straight championships.
I knew he was an elite, top-of-the-top pitcher who basically won every title imaginable.
But what really blew my mind is this: his team was considered one of the weakest in Japanese pro baseball.
He was drafted fourth overall by Orix, a struggling franchise that had been stuck in what fans literally called a “dark age” for years. He started his pro career in the farm system on a salary of just 5 million yen — about $30,000 USD. That was his starting point.
On top of that, early in his pro career, he completely overhauled his pitching mechanics into something unconventional, almost borderline occult-looking. The team strongly opposed it. And yet, just a few years later, he had transformed himself into what many now call the greatest pitcher in NPB history — leading a perennial bottom-tier team, the kind of franchise comparable to the Pirates or Rockies, to three consecutive championships while sweeping nearly every pitching award along the way.
That’s the part that’s truly insane.
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And to top it off, I think he’s going to get even better.
Additionally, the Orix team he pitched for was a severely anemic offense — they were dead last in the league in runs scored. Putting up those jaw-dropping accolades with almost no run support is honestly on another level entirely.
Saint Yama performing fucking miracles out here!
Bless us oh lord for we are not worthy of this baseball titan!
And he is a gold medalist at the 2019 WBSC Premier12, a gold medalist at the 2020 Olympics, and of course a member of the championship-winning team at the 2023 WBC.
Thank you Yada Sensei 🙏
Did you know he’s a phenomenal dancer?
And somehow he is overshadowed in his own country by the giant (literally), that is Shohei Ohtani
And he’s like 27 still
What do pitching mechanics that could be described as “borderline occult-looking” look like?
Kinda what Skenes might do for the pirates if their can get their act together
Occult-looking??? Did Yama meet the devil at the crossroads? I mean, that would explain it.
He’s pretty good.
>something unconventional, almost borderline occult-looking
Someone on here called his little dugout notebook his “book of spells” and I’ve never read a more accurate description.
And Josh Reddick still won’t believe paying 325m is worth it
Peak years coming, can’t wait to witness more greatness from Yama
I didnt know all of this about him when he first signed, but I was so happy when we got him. So glad I made a point to see him pitch each season he has been here
He’s only got one NPB championship. Still an impressive resume
He just wins.
Google him.
He was drafted in the 4th round, not 4th overall. And Orix was pretty good when he was there, they had Yoshida and Adam Jones and a couple other guys
He is but a baby kaiju, albeit a terrifying one. He will continue to grow, and I can’t wait to see it.
And nobody was deemed worthy to received the award triple crown after he left japan. So they just didn’t award it to anybody
Imagine if he throws an immaculate inning.
/s
That’s my World Series MVP 😭😭😭
This is exactly why the Dodgers gave him the largest pitcher contract in history before throwing a single pitch in MLB. The Dodgers analysts knew his stuff would translate here. We’re lucky to have him.