Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto headed to MLB after his Orix club agrees to transfer
Japan's Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivers a pitch during the fifth inning of a World Baseball Classic game against Mexico on March 20, 2023, in Miami. Yamamoto will be allowed to move to an MLB team under the player posting system, the Orix Buffaloes said Sunday, Nov. 5, after it lost Game 7 of the Japan Series to the Hanshin Tigers. Credit: AP/Wilfredo Lee
TOKYO — Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be allowed to move to a Major League Baseball team under the player posting system, the Orix Buffaloes said Sunday after it lost Game 7 of the Japan Series to the Hanshin Tigers.
The ace pitcher has been widely reported ready to move to MLB and is expected to be a top target.
“I’d like to thank my team for accepting my request,” Yamamoto was quoted by Japan’s Kyodo news agency as saying after Orix lost 7-1 in the Games 7 on Sunday.
Yamamoto pitched two games during the Japan Series — the World Series equivalent for Japanese baseball. He allowed seven earned runs in Game 1 but came back in Game 6 and struck out 14 — a series record.
The 25-year-old right-handed pitcher has a 70-29 record in Japanese baseball. His trademark is his wide assortment of breaking pitches, excellent command, and a fastball in the mid-90 mph range.
He was 16-6 this season with a 1.21 ERA.. He struck out 169 in 164 innings.
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