GLENDALE, Ariz. – Yoshinobu Yamamoto got a standing ovation after throwing to hitters for the first time at Dodgers camp Saturday.
From Mookie Betts.
The Dodgers leadoff man led the applause for Yamamoto after the most expensive pitcher in baseball history handcuffed a group of hitters that included Betts, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and Jason Heyward. A large group of players, coaches and team officials watched the 28-pitch session from behind home plate and Betts walked out from behind the screen when Yamamoto finished, clapping. It spread to the crowd watching Yamamoto’s first performance against hitters since signing a 12-year, $325 million contract this winter.
“I went up to (Yamamoto’s interpreter) and said, ‘Please say Incredible in Japanese’ because that was incredible,” said Freeman, one of several players who congratulated Yamamoto after the live BP session. “That was very impressive. The whole package, the calmness to be able to execute when everyone is watching you. It’s very very impressive.”
It was the first big stage for Yamamoto as a Dodger with reporters surrounding the field, dozens of cameras pointed at him (including a team drone hovering near third base) and that large group of his new teammates gathered behind the screen set up behind home plate.
“That was incredible. Nasty,” Freeman said on the field immediately after managing to foul off two pitches during his at-bats against Yamamoto. “To go out there – first time, all eyes on you, all the hype – and just dot every pitch? Very impressive.”
The Dodgers have expressed confidence that Yamamoto’s pitch mix will translate to success in MLB with GM Brandon Gomes saying it is “electric” and “special” and particularly touting his ability to command all of those pitches — “it is up there with the upper echelon of guys I’ve seen command the baseball,” Gomes said.
Freeman said he was “very curious” to get a look at Yamamoto on the mound after…
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