Dodgers Excited for Yoshinobu Yamamoto's Next Chapter

World Series MVP aims to become first Japanese pitcher to win Cy Young Award

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the reigning World Series MVP, is looking to build on his legacy with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After leading the team to a championship in his first two MLB seasons, the 27-year-old Japanese pitcher now has his sights set on winning the Cy Young Award, a feat no Japanese hurler has accomplished before.

Why it matters

Yamamoto's success has made him a national hero in Japan, and his continued dominance could pave the way for more Japanese pitchers to thrive in Major League Baseball. As the Dodgers' ace, he will face stiff competition from other top arms like Shohei Ohtani and Blake Snell, adding intrigue to the race for the Cy Young Award.

The details

Yamamoto, a 5-foot-10 right-hander, is coming off a stellar 2025 season in which he posted a 2.49 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .183 batting average, the lowest in the majors. His heroics in the 2025 World Series, including consecutive complete games and a Game 7 victory on zero days' rest, cemented his status as a rising star. Now, Yamamoto is focused on becoming the first Japanese pitcher to win the Cy Young Award, a goal that has eluded other standouts like Yu Darvish and Kenta Maeda.

  • Yamamoto spent November completely off from throwing before starting his ramp-up for the Dodgers and Samurai Japan.
  • When the Dodgers' pitchers and catchers reported for camp on Friday, Yamamoto was the first pitcher to take the mound to face hitters.

The players

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

A 27-year-old Japanese pitcher who is the reigning World Series MVP and is aiming to become the first Japanese pitcher to win the Cy Young Award.

Dave Roberts

The manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who is excited about Yamamoto's potential and believes he wants to be great and win a Cy Young Award.

Shohei Ohtani

A two-way player who is set to start his first full season with the Dodgers after coming off his first rehab-free offseason in years.

Blake Snell

A pitcher for the Dodgers who already has two Cy Young awards on his mantle.

Tyler Glasnow

A Dodgers pitcher who has always brimmed with talent, even if he hasn't made more than 22 starts in a season in his career.

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What they’re saying

“People know how talented, how good he is.”

— Dave Roberts, Manager (nytimes.com)

“He wants to be great. He wants to win a Cy Young. He hasn't done that yet, so that's a carrot. But I think he prides himself on being consistent and being really good. Every time he takes the ball, he expects to win, we expect to win, and then you sort of look back at the season and see where you're at.”

— Dave Roberts, Manager (nytimes.com)

“I was able to get into the offseason with a great feeling. I was also able to spend this offseason with a little more purpose.”

— Yoshinobu Yamamoto (nytimes.com)

“Yoshinobu is up for anything, clearly.”

— Dave Roberts, Manager (nytimes.com)

What’s next

Yamamoto will pitch for Samurai Japan in the World Baseball Classic this spring, as he aims to defend his home country's crown.

The takeaway

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has already accomplished a lot in his young MLB career, including winning the World Series in both of his seasons with the Dodgers. Now, he has his sights set on becoming the first Japanese pitcher to win the coveted Cy Young Award, a feat that would cement his status as one of the game's elite arms and inspire the next generation of Japanese pitchers to follow in his footsteps.