Yoshinobu Yamamoto's highly anticipated debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers did not go as planned as the right-hander endured a challenging first inning against the San Diego Padres. The 25-year-old pitcher, who recently inked a historic $325 million, 12-year contract with the Dodgers, faced a tough start on Thursday night.
Yamamoto's debut was marred by a rocky first inning, where he gave up five runs to the Padres. He fell behind early, trailing 2-0 after just nine pitches. The right-hander struggled to find his rhythm, needing 43 pitches to secure three outs before being pulled from the game, leaving with a staggering 45.00 ERA.
San Diego capitalized on Yamamoto's struggles, batting around in the first inning. The Dodgers found themselves trailing 5-1 when Michael Grove took over pitching duties from Yamamoto.
During his brief outing, Yamamoto allowed four hits, issued a walk, hit a batter, and threw a wild pitch. His pitch selection included 14 fastballs, 11 cutters, 10 curveballs, and eight splitters, with an average fastball velocity of 95.4 mph.
The Padres' offense took advantage of Yamamoto's inconsistencies, with Xander Bogaerts, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Jake Cronenworth contributing to the early lead. Despite a visit from the pitching coach after just 15 pitches, Yamamoto struggled to contain the Padres' hitters.
Yamamoto's debut performance was a stark contrast to his successful tenure in the Pacific League, where he earned two MVP awards with the Orix Buffaloes. His record-breaking contract with the Dodgers in December marked the largest guaranteed amount ever given to a pitcher in MLB history.
The Dodgers will look to regroup after the disappointing start to the season, aiming to bounce back from the early deficit and showcase their resilience in the games to come.
