Since turning pro in 2017, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is 70-29 with a 1.82 ERA — striking out 922 batters in 897 innings. This has created some excitement in this years MLB free-agency period.

Agent Joel Wolfe highlighted this as the most significant player interest at the start of free agency he has witnessed. Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto has garnered unprecedented attention from MLB teams, with 11-14 expressing interest, surpassing the interest in previous Japanese free agents.

Dominating Japan’s Pacific League for three years, Yamamoto is poised to sign a deal exceeding $200 million.

He’s open to sharing the spotlight with other Japanese stars and is flexible about team placement, but did express a desire to enter a larger market (New York; but they have no Japanese stars, yet). Fueled by MLB’s high demand for quality starting pitchers. Wolfe described it as a “perfect storm” due to Yamamoto’s exceptional skills at the age of 25. A generational talent like this only happens every 10 or 15 years.

The three-time Eiji Sawamura Award winner (equivalent to MLB Cy Young Award), Yamamoto, has a 45-day negotiation period for a deal, with a potential return if no agreement is reached.

The question is, does his skills translate to MLB? What are your thoughts? Follow us on socials @vinquezada1 and @welikesportzpc

By: Vincent Quezada

Photo Credit: CBS Sports

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