SEOUL—The Dodgers signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a record 12-year, $325 million deal this winter, showing that the Japanese right-hander was worth the money despite never throwing a single pitch in the majors.
Most of the scouts around the league thought so too. So many organizations were involved in Yamamoto’s free-agent process. But some people were skeptical about that big deal.
The next decade, not just the beginning, will be determined by whether Yamamoto follows through on his contract. But Yamamoto’s first foray into the majors was disappointing as the right-hander got just one inning, allowing five runs on four hits and a walk, in the Dodgers’ 15–11 loss to the Padres. Thursday, at the Gocheok Sky Dome. He needed 43 pitches to reach the frame
When Yamamoto gave up five runs in an outing lasting one or less innings in his Major League debut, he became the first Dodgers starter since at least 1901. It is the shortest trip by a Dodgers starter since Ralph Morillo in 1958.
Yamamoto started in the wrong place from the jump. Xander Bogaerts hit his first pitch with an exit velocity of 105.4 mph for a single into left field. Two batters later, Jake Cronenworth opened the scoring by hitting a two-run triple off Yamamoto. RBI hit two to Luis Campusano and Tyler Wade in the frame, leading the PadresGot a 5-0 lead in the first.
When Yamamoto returned from the Nippon Professional Baseball League in Japan, league officials and scouts praised his command. This led him to win the Pitching Triple Crown each of the last three seasons, making him the best pitcher in the league.
However, that order did not last throughout the spring, and Yamamoto pitched to an 8.38 ERA in three starts in the Cactus League. The Dodgers’ poor spring training results were disproven, with some conflicts leading to changes and tampering with Major League ball.
But Yamamoto lost command again on Thursday, as he made only 23 of his 43 saves. The Padres recorded hits from Yamamoto’s signature splitter, cutter and four-seamer. The Japanese right-hander allowed 5 strikeouts on 18 swings.
Before the game, the Dodgers made it clear that they would not react to Yamamoto’s first career home run. But that wasn’t the beginning for the Dodgers’ new $325 million man.
The rest of the Dodgers’ pitching staff also struggled behind Yamamoto. Michael Grove gave up four runs (three earned) in two innings. Alex Vescia, Cal Hurt and JP Feyereisen also allowed at least one run in their respective outings. The Dodgers pitching staff gave up the most runs in a game against the Padres.
The excellent offensive performance of the Dodgers’ lineup was undermined by pitching and shaky infield defense, especially by Max Muncy. Mookie Betts led off by reaching base safely five times, hitting a two-run homer in the fifth inning, his first of the season, and a two-run single in the eighth inning, cutting the deficit to one.
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