Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s career reads like a script from a sports movie. The 27-year-old pitcher has risen from a prospect in Japan to a star in American Major League Baseball (MLB).
His journey from Japan to the United States is a story of talent and record-breaking contracts. He is now a key player for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Yamamoto’s professional career began in 2017 with the Orix Buffaloes. He played seven stellar seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league. His statistics were astounding. He recorded a 70-29 record with 922 strikeouts and a remarkable 1.82 ERA.
This performance made him a legend in Japan. He won three consecutive MVP awards and the Eiji Sawamura trophy (Japan’s Cy Young equivalent) three times in a row.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto: causing nightmares for hitters all October 😱 pic.twitter.com/cwgmL0EL4B
— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2025His success attracted the Dodgers’ attention. In December 2023, they made a massive commitment to secure his talent. The Dodgers signed Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million contract. It was the largest contract ever for a pitcher in MLB history.
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The investment has already paid off. In his second season, he earned a 12-8 record with a 2.49 ERA and was named an All-Star. With great success comes great attention. Yamamoto’s fame has extended beyond the baseball diamond.
BACK-TO-BACK COMPLETE GAMES FROM YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO. #WORLDSERIES pic.twitter.com/2PJfrjwY99
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 26, 2025In early 2025, he was romantically linked to American singer Sabrina Carpenter. She later denied these rumours. More recently, he has been connected to Japanese-American model Niki Nawa. While seen together in public, neither has confirmed a relationship, keeping fans guessing.
