After a forgettable start in his MLB debut against the San Diego Padres, Yoshinobu Yamamoto has looked very much like the ace the Los Angeles Dodgers expected him to be.
The right-hander’s recent stretch of success continued on Wednesday with an efficient start against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He allowed six hits and collected five strikeouts over six scoreless innings.
Yamamoto noted some of the adjustments he had to make and attributed his turnaround to staying calm during starts, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“I think I’m being able to keep myself very calm. That’s one of the biggest reasons I’m being able to execute,” Yamamoto said through his interpreter.
“There are some differences between here and Japan, such as the PitchCom, pitch clock. I think I’m being able to get myself used to it. And I’m feeling more comfortable. … I think I’m just getting used to the environment since I came here.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has been impressed with the way Yamamoto is carrying himself on the mound:
“He’s continuing to build confidence. With the confidence he’s finishing all his throws,” Roberts said. “The fastball has the life. It’s in the zone. It’s commanded. The curveball played really well tonight, as did the split.”
Austin Barnes, who caught Yamamoto in the series finale at Chase Field, has also noticed Yamamoto gaining more confidence with each start:
“I thought he pitched really well,” Barnes said. “I thought with a six-run lead he attacked hitters. I thought he was pretty efficient early on, taking his outs, not trying to chase punch (strikeouts).
“I think after every start he probably gets more confidence. He’s only 25 years old and it’s a new league for him. He’s been throwing the ball really well so it’s hard to say he doesn’t have his feet under him. He was great today.”
Since his poor outing against the Padres in the Seoul Series, Yamamoto has posted a minuscule 1.64 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over six starts. Barnes has caught three of those, with the 25-year-old not allowing a run in 17 innings pitched.
For the year, Yamamoto is 3-1 with a 2.97 ERA, 2.61 FIP, 1.09 WHIP and 11.1 strikeouts per nine in 34 innings across seven starts.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto improved fastball command by ‘synching delivery’
Also key to Yamamoto’s recent success has been improved fastball command. He struggled throwing it for strikes throughout Spring Training and in his Seoul Series start against the Padres.
Roberts believes a tweak to the delivery has allowed Yamamoto’s fastball command to improve.
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