Dodgers’ Dave Roberts on Yamamoto’s Debut: ‘Don’t Think It Could’ve Gone Any Better’

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVFebruary 29, 2024

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It didn’t take long for Yoshinobu Yamamoto to impress his new manager.

“I don’t think it could’ve gone any better,” Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the right-hander made his debut in Wednesday’s 6-4 Spring Training loss to the Texas Rangers, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

Yamamoto pitched two scoreless innings and allowed a single hit with three strikeouts.

It was quite a first outing and hinted at what is yet to come, and Roberts highlighted his ability to mix his pitches all while “he can go glove side, he can go arm side, he can go down, he can go up” in the strike zone.

The manager also said Yamamoto reminded him of Zack Greinke and believes the new signee will live up to expectations in a championship-or-bust season.

“He’s been the best pitcher in Japan for quite some time,” Roberts said. “So him having to live up to expectations, he’s done that.”

Greinke is quite the comparison, as he has a Cy Young, two ERA titles, six All-Star selections, six Gold Gloves and even two Silver Sluggers on his impressive resume. Los Angeles might not need that from Yamamoto, but it signed him to a 12-year, $325 million contract to anchor the rotation.

His ability to do so is even more important in 2024 since Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch as he recovers from elbow surgery. What’s more, Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw will start the season on the injured list.

That will put plenty of pressure on Yamamoto’s shoulders right from the start, but he looked up to the task in his first two innings of Spring Training on Wednesday.