The Los Angeles Dodgers were defeated by the San Diego Padres in a thrilling game held in Seoul, South Korea as part of the 2024 Major League season. The highlight of the game was the long-awaited debut of Japanese right-hander, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who recently signed a lucrative 12-year, $325 million deal with the Dodgers. However, Yamamoto’s first official start did not go as planned as he struggled against the Padres’ offense.
Yamamoto only lasted one inning on the mound, giving up four hits, five earned runs, walking one, and striking out two. He threw a total of 43 pitches, with only 23 of them being strikes. This performance was reminiscent of his underwhelming showing during Spring Training, where he recorded a 0-1 record in three starts with an 8.38 ERA, 1.97 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts.
Despite this rocky start, the Dodgers remain optimistic about Yamamoto’s potential to strengthen their rotation and contribute to their success in the upcoming season. Fans are hopeful that Yamamoto will be able to bounce back from this rough outing and showcase his true talent in the games to come.