Shohei Ohtani plans to play both ways this season, but the spotlight may shift to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a Japanese pitcher for the Dodgers. Yamamoto, who has only pitched five innings at the start of this season, displayed marked improvement in his debut against the Cubs, achieving nearly 97 mph average fastball velocity and demonstrating both confidence and skill. Despite challenges like a pitch-clock violation, his performance has drawn attention, suggesting he could be in contention for prestigious awards if he maintains consistency throughout the season.
Yamamoto returned for his second major league season a new pitcher, pitching harder with greater confidence, demonstrating potential to be Cy Young-caliber.
Despite pitching only five innings this season due to preparation issues, Yamamoto's initial performance suggests he has become a significantly improved player.
Yamamoto's five innings against the Cubs demonstrated promise, showing a consistent fastball and effective use of his splitter and curveball to confound hitters.
Even overcoming early issues like a pitch-clock violation and communication device malfunction, Yamamoto showcased resilience and skill reminiscent of a top-performing pitcher.
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