The rise of Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the World Series MVP

SINGAPORE – A photo taken in the Rogers Centre locker room after Game 2 of the World Series on Oct 25 shows Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s teammates bowing to him.

It might have been a light-hearted moment between teammates, but it also reflected their admiration for the 27-year-old, who had just become the first pitcher to throw back-to-back complete games in the post-season since 2001. His brilliance helped the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays and level the series.

If that was not enough to showcase his talent, Yamamoto sealed his place among the game’s greats by earning World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) honours on Nov 1, after a remarkable series that saw the Dodgers rally to beat the Blue Jays 5-4 in extra innings in the winner-takes-all Game 7.

As confetti rained down and the Dodgers celebrated becoming Major League Baseball’s (MLB) first repeat champions in 25 years, it was no surprise that the workhorse pitcher needed help lifting the World Series MVP trophy.

With his performance in Game 7, he capped one of the best pitching showings in World Series history with 2 2/3 scoreless innings, a day after throwing 96 pitches in the Dodgers’ Game 6 victory.

“It’s unheard of, and I think that there’s a mind component, there’s a delivery, which is a flawless delivery, and there’s just an unwavering will,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts after their triumph.

“I just haven’t seen it before... There’s certain players that want moments and there are certain players that want it for the right reasons, but Yoshi is a guy that I just completely implicitly trust.”

Yamamoto is the first pitcher to win the MVP award since Stephen Strasburg in 2019 and the first Japanese-born World Series MVP since Hideki Matsui in 2009.

What was even more impressive was that he edged out teammate and fellow countryman Shohei Ohtani, who was widely considered the front runner for the award early in the series.

But after reaching base nine times in Game 3, Ohtani went just 3-for-15 at the plate and struggled on the mound in Games 4 and 7.

From Japan to the big stage

Yamamoto’s journey to baseball’s pinnacle started in the pottery-rich city of Bizen, Japan.

He picked up baseball in the first grade of elementary school, starting as a third baseman and catcher.

His smaller and thinner build saw him struggle to break into the starting line-up in the first two years of junior high school and it was not until his third year that he earned a regular spot on the roster.

He then relocated to the Miyazaki prefecture to enrol in Miyakonojo High School, which was renowned for its baseball programme. His professional career began when the Orix Buffaloes selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft.

He went on to dominate in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), claiming three straight Eiji Sawamura Awards – the honour bestowed upon the top starting pitcher in the NPB – from 2021 to 2023. He also captured the pitching triple crown, leading the league in wins, earned run average (ERA) and strikeouts.

Yamamoto was instrumental in leading Orix to a Japan Series title in 2022 and also represented Japan in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 World Baseball Classic, winning gold both times.

As his NPB career flourished, MLB teams took notice and the bidding war for his services was intense.

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen flew to Japan to meet him, while the New York Yankees booked him a suite at a Manhattan hotel that previously had been used by pop star Taylor Swift.

Other suitors, including the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, made elaborate pitches too.

But ultimately, it was the Dodgers who sealed the deal, luring him to the United States with a 12-year, US$325 million (S$423 million) contract ahead of the 2024 season.

This came shortly after the Dodgers signed Ohtani in a record-shattering 10-year, US$700 million pact.

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said of Yamamoto: “You don’t win three MVP awards by the age of 25 without an exceptional combination of talent, work ethic and mental toughness.

“He’s an elite pitcher with an impressive dedication to his craft who will only become more dynamic in a Dodger uniform.”

Overcoming rocky MLB start

Yamamoto’s first season in the MLB, however, was not without its struggles. He was sidelined by shoulder issues and experienced a tough debut against the San Diego Padres in the second game of the season, where he gave up six runs in just one inning.

Those early setbacks led to questions about whether the Dodgers had made a mistake splurging on a pitcher who had no major league experience.

But Yamamoto rebounded, finishing the 2024 season with a 3.00 ERA over 90 regular-season innings while also playing a role in the Dodgers’ World Series victory that year.

What sets him apart is his unique approach to training. He arrived at his first MLB spring training with his personal trainer Osamu Yada and a bag of footballs and javelins.

Under Yada, Yamamoto has refined his craft through unorthodox methods, which include throwing a 400g plastic javelin to generate power like a thrower by engaging his whole body, while also enhancing his flexibility through gymnastics and yoga.

Fellow Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who announced his retirement after this season, praised Yamamoto’s mechanics as “pristine”.

His deep pitch arsenal is another factor that makes him so effective.

Blue Jays slugger George Springer said: “There’s no other way to describe it. He’s elite. He can control six or seven different types of spin and obviously that split is hard to hit.”

And on the biggest stage, Yamamoto delivered, becoming the 14th pitcher in history to win three games for his team in a single World Series.

Following the victory, he was humble in his reflections. He said: “I did everything I was supposed to do and I’m so happy that I was able to win this with these teammates.”

His performance earned high praise from those around him, particularly from another MVP.

Ohtani said: “I have no idea how he pulled it off. I really believe he is the No. 1 pitcher in the whole world.”