If Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s first live batting practice session was any indication of the season he’s going to have, the National League might be having some nightmares.
The team’s new $325 million ace impressed his teammates as scores of reporters and photographers looked on while Yamamoto faced off against the Dodgers at their spring training complex in Camelback Ranch, Arizona.
Video shared by the Dodgers’ social media team showed Yamamoto, who signed a 12-year deal this offseason, fire in a mix of fastballs and impressive breaking balls.
Per the Los Angeles Times, Yamamoto told Japanese media in attendance that he was throwing around 96 mph on his fastball.
“It was good for me to have the opportunity to face the actual hitters,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter, MLB.com reported, after throwing around 30 pitches. “I think this is not the best yet, and I’m going to keep adjusting with what I need to and it’s going to keep getting better.”
First baseman Freddie Freeman, a seven-time All-Star and 2020’s National League MVP, was impressed with the right-handers repertoire and is happy he won’t be on the other side of those pitches when it comes to the regular season.
“That was incredible. Nasty,” Freeman said, per the Orange County Register. “To go out there, first time, all eyes on you and just dot every pitch? Very impressive.”
Mookie Betts was so amazed that he gave Yamamoto a standing ovation, per MLB.com.
Freeman added that Yamamoto didn’t even need the high-90s fastball to get the job done.
“He doesn’t even have to throw that hard with the command he has,” the first baseman said per the Times.
Yamamoto was highly coveted this offseason after he was departing Nippon Professional Baseball for the United States.
The right-hander was a three-time MVP and posted an absurd 1.82 ERA with 922 strikeouts in seven seasons with the Orix Buffaloes.
Both the Mets and Yankees were in hot pursuit of his services, but ultimately, the Dodgers won out.
With an impressive rotation that also now includes Tyler Glasnow and James Paxton, Los Angeles looks to get back over the hump and back into the World Series for the first time in four years.
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