"I'm dumbfounded" '1R Express Promoter'... '43.2 billion' Yamamoto, first bullpen pitching → LAD President + Manager, 50 people gathered

According to multiple local media outlets, including Japan's Chunichi Sports, Yamamoto made his first bullpen pitching wearing a Dodgers uniform on the 10th (Korea time). On the same day, Yamamoto threw a total of 21 pitches, including fastballs, curves, splitters, two-seams, cutters and sliders.

Yamamoto was called the "Ace of Japan" before entering the Major League. In 2021, he was named the MVP of the regular season along with four Pacific League pitchers (multiple wins, winning percentage, ERA, strikeouts), and reborn as the best player by embracing the "Sawamura Award" given to the best pitcher. He continued his career for three consecutive years until last year and challenged the Major League based on his performance at the World Baseball Classic.

If Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers) was the most interested player in the FA (Free Agent) market this winter, after Ohtani's destination was decided, there was a lot of attention on how big a contract Yamamoto will enter the big league with as he has already made a big record in Japan. And the Dodgers, the New York Mets, the New York Yankees, and the San Francisco Giants competed fiercely for Yamamoto's future.

Yamamoto was presented with the highest annual average by the Mets, and the same amount by the Dodgers by the Yankees. However, the Dodgers successfully captured Yamamoto's heart after proposing a 12-year, 325-million-dollar down payment that includes 50 million-dollar (about 66.7 billion won) deposit so that he could benefit from taxes. In terms of "detail," the Dodgers was ahead of the Mets and Yankees.

The Dodgers, which will hold the Major League regular season opener against the San Diego Padres at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on March 20, will start spring camp a little early unlike other teams, with Yamamoto taking the first bullpen pitching on the day. According to Japan's "Junichi Sports," a total of 50 players, including manager Dave Roberts, players and team officials, flocked to watch Yamamoto's pitch along with President Andrew Friedman.

Chunichi Sports said, "I threw 21 pitches, showing all the curves, splitters, two-seam fastballs, cutters and sliders that disappear from the perspective of the fastball and the batter," adding, "The eyes of people around Yamamoto were fixed on his colorful pitches."

It was a bullpen pitcher, but Gavin Lux entered the batter's box on the day, and he threw his tongue out after seeing Yamamoto's pitch. According to Chunichi Sports, Lux said, "I was dumbfounded," adding, "Everything stabilized. You can throw strikes with all pitches, including fastballs, curves, and splitters. I think Yamamoto will be able to adapt quickly and succeed in the Major League."

What surprised Lux was Yamamoto's pitching form. Before the WBC in March last year, Yamamoto lifted his left leg, took a pause, and started pitching. However, since the WBC games, he skipped the movement of raising his left leg and changed his pitching form to a "slide step" that is used when a runner is present. "Yamamoto throws 96-97 miles (154.5-156.1 kilometers) of fastball, adding a slide step to it," Lux said. "It was so difficult to match the timing."

After the first pitch, Yamamoto expressed his desire to win the World Series (WS), saying, "I felt a little bit more realistic about joining the Dodgers, but I felt more realistic when I trained in the Dodgers uniform."