“We can get anything”
“New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made an enthusiastic call to Yamamoto, who is using the posting system to challenge for the major leagues next year, at the general managers’ meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona,” Japan’s Sports Hochi reported on Aug. 8 (KST).
Yamamoto is currently an “ace” pitcher in the Nippon Professional Baseball organization, but his potential began to explode in the 2021 season. Initially a bullpen pitcher, Yamamoto transitioned to a starting role in the 2019 season, and in 26 appearances in 2021, he pitched 193⅔ innings, struck out 206 batters, went 18-6 with a 1.39 ERA, and won four Pacific League Pitcher of the Year awards (wins, wins, strikeouts, and ERA) and the Sawamura Award, which is reserved for the best pitcher after regular season MVP.
That was just the beginning. In the 2022 season, Yamamoto went 15-5 with 205 strikeouts and a 1.68 ERA in 193 innings over 26 games, making him the first pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball history to win four titles, MVP, and the Sawamura Award for the second consecutive year. This year, he had his best year yet, going 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA in 23 games and 164 innings pitched, striking out 169 batters. Now that Yamamoto has won the Pitcher of the Year award for the third year in a row and the Sawamura Award, the only thing left to do is to announce the MVP.
Yamamoto will soon be evaluated by Major League Baseball clubs through the posting system, and the interest in him is very high. Given his performances in the last three seasons and at international tournaments like the World Baseball Classic (WBC), it’s very likely that 30 major league teams will be in the running to sign him. Among them, the New York Yankees stand out. 보스토토
The Yankees are very “serious” about Yamamoto. In September, general manager Brian Cashman traveled to Japan to see Yamamoto in person. It had been six years since Cashman had traveled to Japan to observe Shohei Ohtani in 2017. And on the day of the match, a record was made. Yamamoto threw a nine-inning no-hitter against the Chiba Lotte Marines on September 9, throwing 102 pitches, striking out eight, and walking two (one hit and one walk), and Cashman was on the field to witness it.
According to Japan’s Sankei Sports, after Yamamoto’s no-hitter, Cashman told Japanese reporters, “It was great. Everyone who saw it was excited. It was a historic play. It was a great moment for the team, a great moment for the fans. I’m happy to be a part of this moment.” “I’ll cherish my ticket today. Maybe one day, when I see him again, I’ll be able to get him to sign an autograph.” He gave Yamamoto a thumbs-up and sent him a “love call” as both the Major League and Nippon Professional Baseball schedules ended.
