The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to win consecutive World Series since the New York Yankees three-peat from 1998-2000, and it would not have happened without the heroics of Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

After starting Game 6 of the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays and going six innings, Yamamoto took the mound the following day in the bottom of the 10th inning in a tightly contested Game 7. On no rest, he logged 2.2 innings and allowed no runs to help lift the Dodgers to victory.

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The moment, and Yamamoto’s production up to that point, had been a result of increased confidence, a lot of which came from his teammate, Kiké Hernández.

Recently, Hernández appeared with LA AM570 Sports to discuss what he has seen from Yamamoto while revisiting a conversation held between the two after a game against the San Diego Padres in the 2024 National League Division Series.

“Really proud, obviously,” Hernández said. “If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have won the World Series. But, you know, basically our conversation went It was just basically telling him, man, I think you’re the best pitcher in the world. Just go out there and show people who you are, and he’s done nothing but that.”

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In the 2024 postseason, Yamamoto started four games and went 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA on the way to the Dodgers’ first World Series win since 2020. In their run last season, Yamamoto made five starts and went 5-1 with a 1.45 ERA, a dramatic improvement.

“For him to go two complete games in back-to-back starts, and then not only win Game 6, but then take the mound the very next day on no rest,” Hernández added.

“And not only that, but to throw the most outs out of any of our pitchers that night was incredible. He truly put a Superman cape on and he delivered.”

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All along, Hernández just wanted the Japanese star to believe in himself, which prompted their conversation.

“That’s why I decided to take him outside of, you know, a team environment without a team translator and all that, and I basically just wanted him to believe what I believed in him. And I’m sure he’s never really lacked confidence, but at times, you know, being in a different country and, I’ve been on that mound, even though I’m not a pitcher, sometimes it’s the loneliest feeling in the world.”

“So, I just wanted him to know that, you know, we, us, your teammates, we believe in you. We think you’re the greatest. And then, you know, we’re right behind you, supporting you. And, you know, he was able to relax a little bit and deliver that game five against the Padres.”