Yoshinobu Yamamoto won the first national league pitcher of honor this month’s season and the first of his career on Friday.
The right-hander, who was named the NL’s best pitcher until March and April, boasts a 0.90 ERA leading the NL, ranking third in the league with four wins. Yamamoto also holds an average of .171 batters in 40 innings, which ranks second in the NL.
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Yamamoto is the first pitcher to win honors since the All-Star South Pole Layton Carshaw was recognized in April 2023.
Yamamoto shines in the Los Angeles rotation, with his teammates acknowledging his dominance on the mound. All-Star catcher Will Smith described Yamamoto as the best pitcher in the world for Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.
“We just do all his pitches, we’re just making it really hard for the batter,” Smith told Yamamoto’s dominant Harris. “Now he’s pitching like the best pitcher in the world. We’re lucky to have him.”
On his first outing in May, Yamamoto opened a road series with the Atlanta Braves on Friday. The 26-year-old scorelessly for the Braves and pitched six strikeouts in six innings.
“He ruled today,” ‘ reliever Evan Phillips told Bill Plunkett on the Orange County Register. “And I feel like it wasn’t even the best version of Yama. It’s crazy. Man, when you talk about everyday and work ethics and talent, this guy is one of the best in the game. It’s certainly fun to watch.”
The Los Angeles have signed Yamamoto a 12-year, $325 million contract to become the highest-paid pitcher in MLB. However, during the summer of last season, Yamamoto was left the mound for three months due to a triceps injury.
Now, a healthy Yamamoto is dominating in his second MLB season. He has pitched 49 strikeouts and has allowed four runs so far this season.
Yamamoto is keeping the spinning up as starting pitchers Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Shoe Hei can’t pitch.
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Photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Immagn Image
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