Yoshinobu Yamamoto ‘ecstatic’ to join LA Dodgers, claims would have joined them even without two-way star Shohei Ohtani

Yoshinobu Yamamoto was introduced to the MLB on Wednesday after he signed a huge $325 million, 12-year deal last week.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto ‘ecstatic’ to join LA Dodgers, claims would have joined them even without two-way star Shohei Ohtani

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (L) and Shohei Ohtani (R) [Pic Credit: AP/Imago]

The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to grab headlines. The National League West side has been super active on the market and took home two of the hottest free agents in Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They have now introduced Yamamoto to the MLB through a press conference on Wednesday.

Yamamoto joins the Dodgers after penning down a 12-year $325 million deal. His move comes after he had another successful season in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league in Japan where he won his third straight MVP title. He has now claimed he is “ecstatic” to join the Dodgers.

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While speaking before the crowd for the first time, Yamamoto would claim he was happy to call Los Angeles his new home. While donning the No.18 jersey, the Japanese pitcher said:

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Good afternoon. My name is Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the LA Dodgers. I am beyond ecstatic to become a member of this historic franchise, and cannot express how much it means to me to be able to call Los Angeles my new home.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto in his introduction press conference through MLB.com.

During the conference, Yamamoto was asked whether the decision of Ohtani affected him on joining the Dodgers. While praising the two-way phenom, Yamamoto claimed that he would have joined the Dodgers even if he (Ohtani) had not joined them as he had already kept his eyes on them.

Whatever his decision was, the Dodgers are happy that Yamamoto chose them over the other teams. Several eyes of the baseball world will now carefully look upon every move Yamamoto and Ohtani make as they get ready to team up.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto looking forward to facing Red Sox’s Masataka Yoshida

The excitement level among Dodgers fans is on the rise. After acquiring two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani on a mega $700 million deal, the team went all out and got their hands on Yoshinobu Yamamoto. On Wednesday, the ace pitcher was introduced to the media and spoke on several topics. One interesting topic of them was whom he was looking forward to facing next season.

The three-time NPB MVP has named Boston Red Sox’s Masataka Yoshida as the opponent he cannot wait to face next season. Yoshida who made his debut in the major league last season, has been another one of the Japanese stars making their name in MLB.

Masataka Yoshida and Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Masataka Yoshida (L) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (R) [Image via The Boston Globe/AP]

Yoshida and Yamamoto have known each other for a while. They were teammates in Japan and were a part of the Japanese squad that emerged victorious at the World Baseball Classic earlier this year. 

If (there’s) anyone (I’m) looking forward to playing against, it’s Masataka Yoshida of the Red Sox. He was an old teammate in Japan. To be able to face him in a real game over here would mean a lot.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto on which oppenent he was looking forward to face in 2024 through his translator on MLB Network.

Yamamoto could have the chance to face him as the Dodgers and Red Sox face off in a three-game series in July. Who will come out on top in this exciting matchup between two rising Japanese stars would be interesting to witness.

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