SEOUL, South Korea — For the past three months, the only number that seemed to matter with Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the $325 million he signed for with the Dodgers.
Now there is another number attached to the Japanese right-hander – his 8.38 ERA in three Cactus League starts.
Impressive as he was at times with 14 strikeouts in 9⅔ innings, Yamamoto also gave up 15 hits and walked four in that time.
“There was certainly some contact,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Balls out over the plate. There were some uncharacteristic walks in there. I don’t see the walk in play this year. I do think there’s going to be some contact but a punch out when it’s needed. So I’m not thinking too much of those outings. I think once the bell rings there’s a heightened focus. I think getting him built up, keeping him healthy as he’s opened the season was the biggest win and we’ll go from there.”
Yamamoto admitted a mixture of nerves and excitement heading into his MLB debut Thursday against the San Diego Padres in Seoul – but no concern about the spring results.
“So my spring numbers were not good. I admit that,” he said through his interpreter. “But other than that, I found some adjustments. So I’m not really concerned about that.”
One thing Yamamoto was concerned about – though he wouldn’t admit it – was pitch tipping. The question came up in his first start against the Texas Rangers and he appeared to be working on an adjustment in his final Cactus League start, varying the position of his glove in his pre-pitch setup.
“Yes, I made a little bit of an adjustment in my hand position,” he acknowledged Wednesday. “But I feel now I did everything I could do and made that adjustment.”
INJURED PITCHERS
The Dodgers set their season-opening roster before Wednesday’s game and placed pitchers Brusdar Graterol (shoulder), Walker Buehler (Tommy John surgery), Emmet Sheehan (shoulder) and Blake Treinen (bruised lung) on the…
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