Yoshinobu Yamamoto made his spring training debut on Saturday against the Angels in Tempe, showcasing a mix of brilliance and challenge on the mound. The Dodgers’ right-hander had a stellar first inning, striking out two batters and exhibiting strong control. However, the second inning posed a significant test as he contended with offensive pressure from the Angels.
During the second inning, despite the Dodgers capitalizing on the Angels’ pitching with six runs, Yamamoto struggled. He surrendered a double along with two singles, which, coupled with an error by Teoscar Hernández in left field, culminated in two runs being charged to him, one of which was earned. This performance led to him being pulled from the game with two outs in the inning after throwing a total of 30 pitches, aligning with the team’s expectations for his debut outing.
In an exciting development, Yamamoto will be making another start for the Dodgers in Arizona ahead of his commitment to Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic. This will mark his second consecutive appearance in the prestigious tournament, with training set to commence in Tokyo next weekend.
The Dodgers’ next game is on Friday, February 27, where they will face the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale, providing another opportunity for players to fine-tune their skills as the spring training season progresses. Yamamoto’s performance, albeit a mix of highs and lows, suggests that he remains an integral part of the Dodgers’ strategy as they prepare for the upcoming competitive season.