The Los Angeles Dodgers feature one of the deepest starting rotations in baseball, and the group is headlined by right‑handed ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The 27‑year‑old possesses one of the most dominant pitches in the sport, his splitter, along with several complementary options that make his arsenal one of the most complete in the league.
His full repertoire was on display in 2025, when he delivered an exceptional season in just his second year with the organization. Yamamoto posted a 2.49 ERA, 0.990 WHIP and a 12‑8 record across 30 starts while striking out 201 batters in 173 2/3 innings. He earned a third‑place finish in National League Cy Young voting and an All-Star selection.
His most impressive work came in October, rising on the biggest stage to win World Series MVP while helping the Dodgers secure their second straight championship. He won three games in the World Series alone and finished the postseason with a 1.45 ERA, including back‑to‑back complete games.
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That workload was enormous, and it is something the Dodgers are monitoring closely even though Yamamoto has repeatedly said he feels fine. His workload is set to increase again as he prepares to pitch for Team Japan in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
On Friday, clarity emerged regarding Yamamoto’s spring schedule. He made his final start before leaving for the international tournament, throwing three innings against the San Francisco Giants while allowing two runs and striking out four hitters.
That outing was planned, and afterward Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Yamamoto will leave for the WBC on Friday. Roberts also outlined the expected workload for the tournament, saying Yamamoto will ideally throw around 60 pitches in his first start and roughly 75 in his next appearance (h/t Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register).
This is significant because the Dodgers want him sharp for the WBC without overextending him before the regular season begins, especially after last year’s heavy usage.
Yamamoto remains in the middle of his 12‑year, $325 million contract with Los Angeles, the largest guaranteed deal ever given to a pitcher. He can opt out after the 2029 and 2031 seasons if he remains healthy, and based on his first two years, he could easily command an even larger deal.
When he returns to camp, Yamamoto will shift his focus back to helping the Dodgers chase a third straight World Series title and continue cementing his place as one of the defining pitchers of his era.