Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a … [+]
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The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani has few peers, but not even he’s done what Yoshinobu Yamamoto has accomplished.
Yamamoto, a former Japanese star in his second season with the Dodgers, has completed baseball’s unique triple crown. He’s one-of-one in winning an Olympic gold medal, being on the World Baseball Classic squad and a world champion with L.A.
He’ll add another feather in his Dodger blue cap when snagging his first opening-day start in the major leagues on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series.
L.A.’s fingers are crossed this season’s curtain-rising effort goes better than last year’s clunker. He secured but three outs in allowing five runs on four hits in a loss to the San Diego Padres in the Seoul Series.
“In terms of preparation, there’s not much difference,’’ Yamamoto said. “Last year, things didn’t go my way, but this year, I think I’m pretty happy with where I am.”
Especially being in his native Japan, where Yamamoto will square off against another Japanese standout in Cubs’ left-hander Shota Imanaga.
“I’ve been staying in touch with Imanaga some, but we haven’t really talked anything about baseball,’’ said Yamamoto, who signed a 12-year, $325 million contract to move overseas. “But on a stage like this, in Tokyo, facing off with a Japanese pitcher, that’s an incredible opportunity. I’m going to try my best to perform.”
Yamamoto did his best to have forget that first start.
He tossed that dud into the dumpster and earned his stripes, going 7-3 with a 3.00 ERA last year. In the Dodgers’ run to the title, he went 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in four appearances.
L.A. manager Dave Roberts admitted Yamamoto had a clunker in his major-league debut, but what’s telling is how he rebounded. Roberts doesn’t expect a first-start rerun from Yamamoto come Tuesday.
