My tryst with MLB was accidental, but what followed was nothing short of a pursuit of excellence. Having penned over 1,000 articles, I've written about the key figures ES regularly features, including Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, and Mike Trout, but Shohei Ohtani is a personal favorite. From New York to Los Angeles, I've covered articles spanning all 50 states that have been recognized as Editor's Picks on multiple occasions. With an exceptional attention to detail and insightful coverage, I'm now an MLB editor. Other than baseball, I also occasionally pick up a bow and arrow and engage in friendly archery games. When not covering news of the diamond or hitting the bull's eye with my arrows, I love to indulge in my love for literature. I agree with what Jane Austen said, “The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.” I also enjoy reading about morally gray characters and talking about them on my bookstagram!

Over the last few years, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been perennial playoff contenders with World Series [https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/mlb/world-series/] title aspirations. But now more than ever the team seems to be in the spotlight and under some serious pressure. Their acquisitions of Shohei Ohtani [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/shohei-ohtani/] and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have heaped up the expectations as they dive into a highly anticipated 2024 campaign. The Dodgers have managed to experience extensive regular-season success but have fallen short in the playoffs in recent years. 2020 was an exception, but the Blue Crew has not won the Fall Classic in a full season since 1988. Now, with the off-season in full swing, the spotlight is brighter than ever before. LOS ANGELES DODGERS UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE TO CLINCH ANOTHER COMMISSIONER’S TROPHY The Los Angeles Dodgers are in win-or-bust mode. After applying a billion-dollar band-aid [https://www.essentiallysports.com/mlb-baseball-news-billion-dollar-band-aid-los-angeles-dodgers-spending-spree-after-horrific-alds-loss-to-underdog-diamondbacks/] in the form of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow after 2023’s playoff failure, there is no excuse. Furthermore, with superstars like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/freddie-freeman/] already on the team, the pressure is beginning to mount for them. [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Yoshinobu-Yamamoto-Lars-Nootbaar-Shohei-Ohtani-466x315.jpg] 2024 will be a massive season for this new-look superteam, as they look to recover from a disappointing ALDS loss this past postseason. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is one of the people who will suffer particular scrutiny. If he cannot win with this simply stacked team, then his job may very well be in trouble after recent playoff disappointments. MLB insiders, experts, and fans will all have high expectations for the Dodgers who have improved their pitching rotation while adding Shohei Ohtani [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/shohei-ohtani/] to their already stacked offense. Furthermore, by signing the 2023 MVP, they have a special trio of players. THE DODGERS HAVE 3 BONAFIDE MVP CANDIDATES By adding Shohei Ohtani to their core of Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers have achieved a special feat. They now have 3 of the 6 MVP finalists from the 2023 season as a part of their lineup. These include Ohtani, who won the AL MVP, along with Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, who were finalists for the 2023 NL MVP. This is massive for the team with NPB’s 3x PL MVP Yamamoto. Uniform with 10x Veteran MLB All-Star [https://www.essentiallysports.com/mlb-baseball-news-los-angeles-dodgers-one-hundred-thirty-six-point-five-million-acquisition-hopes-to-share-uniform-with-ten-time-veteran-mlb-all-star/] All in all, the team has made great additions but with those accumulations come heavier burdens. Do you think the Los Angeles Dodgers can finally clinch a World Series with thei star-studded lineup in the 2024 season? Watch This Story: The Japanese Sensation Shohei Ohtani Donned The Dodgers Jersey To Set Social Media On Fire [https://www.essentiallysports.com/stories/mlb-news-the-japanese-sensation-shohei-ohtani-donned-the-dodgers-jersey-to-set-social-media-on-fire/] 

Following years with some success, the Los Angeles Dodgers are facing pressure after adding free agents Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Pranay Mukherjee is an MLB writer at EssentiallySports, with a degree in
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Los Angeles Dodgers Feel the Pressure, as Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto
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Los Angeles Dodgers Feel the Pressure, as Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto Additions Create World Series Expectations

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<h2 style="color: #252525;text-align: center">Shohei Ohtani: Net Worth 2024, MLB Career, Relationships, and More</h2>
<h2 style="color: #252525;text-align: center">What is the net worth of Los Angeles Dodgers' star Shohei Ohtani?</h2>
As described by the media and his sponsors, Shohei Ohtani is a once-in-a-lifetime talent who recently inked a history-breaking $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. According to various sources, Shohei Ohtani's net worth was approximately $50 million in 2023, prior to landing a deal with the Dodgers. 


[caption id="attachment_2541444" align="aligncenter" width="8001"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2541444" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-12-22T010301Z_1643876178_MT1USATODAY22156122_RTRMADP_3_NFL-NEW-ORLEANS-SAINTS-AT-LOS-ANGELES-RAMS.jpg" alt="" width="8001" height="5334" /> Dec 21, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani attends the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
While the specifics of the contract clauses are kept confidential, industry experts speculate that Ohtani stands to potentially earn approximately $105 million annually in 2024. This estimated sum combines his salary from the Dodgers and endorsement deals. With Ohtani being a generational talent, his parents deserve a special mention.

<h2 style="color: #252525;text-align: center">Who are his parents? All you need to know about his life and family</h2>
On July 5th, 1994, the baseball unicorn-to-be was born to Toru and Kayoko Ohtani in Oshu, Japan. For the unversed, Sho-time hails from a family of athletes. On the one hand, his father, Toru, earned a livelihood by working in a local automobile manufacturing plant in the same country, and he was an avid baseball player in the Japanese Industrial League. Recognizing young Shohei's natural talent for the game, Toru understood the importance of wholeheartedly dedicating himself to coaching his son.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2571375" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Ohtani-Parents.png" alt="" width="1132" height="822" />
On the other hand, Shohei’s mother was in a different league altogether. In her high school days, Kayoko actively played badminton, which led her school authorities to keep her reserved for the local games. 
In a brief span, her exceptional skills on the court propelled her to the national level. Nevertheless, she opted to retire from sports in her late twenties and prioritized her family.
Ryuta Ohtani, the older brother of Shohei, initially pursued a career as an amateur baseball player and later transitioned into coaching for a corporate baseball team. Meanwhile, their sister, Yuka, engaged in volleyball during her teenage years before embarking on a career in the medical field. It is safe to say that sports run in the blood of the Ohtanis.

<h2 style="color: #252525;text-align: center">A Star on the Diamond: A Look at Shohei Ohtani’s Baseball Career</h2>
After being trained by his father, the now-best baseball player in the world", he attended Hanamaki Higashi High School, pitching for the school team. At just 18, Ohtani showed his incredible pitching ability by tossing a near-100-mph fastball.
Although he wished to join the major leagues right after high school, Ohtani joined the Japanese team Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2013. It was here that Ohtani honed his skills as a hitter and a pitcher to become one of the hottest prospects in baseball. He recorded some of the best statistics of any Japanese player, ranging from strikeouts to home runs in the sport's history.


[caption id="attachment_1735240" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1735240" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-05-10T230436Z_1529850878_MT1USATODAY20637185_RTRMADP_3_MLB-HOUSTON-ASTROS-AT-LOS-ANGELES-ANGELS.jpg" alt="Shohei Ohtani" width="1920" height="1280" /> May 10, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates with the kabuto helmet after hitting a two run home run against the Houston Astros during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
Amidst interest from many MLB teams, Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Angels in December 2017. He played his first MLB game against the Oakland Athletics on March 29, 2018. During this game, he played as a designated hitter, hitting a single on his first at-bat. Two days later, he made his pitching debut against the same opponents.
He won the American League Rookie of the Year in 2018, marking his potential for the rest of the MLB. However, he suffered a bipartite patella injury in 2019, which cut short his second MLB season. Prior to this, the Japanese star underwent Tommy John surgery, which put his pitching career in doubt.
In 2020, Ohtani suffered a flexor strain on his elbow, which once again endangered his pitching capability. However, the then-27-year-old produced one of his finest MLB seasons in 2021, both as a pitcher and a hitter. After delivering one of the best and most remarkable seasons in 2022, Ohtani asserted, “My pitching numbers are better. I’m just playing with more confidence after experiencing last year.”


[caption id="attachment_781400" align="aligncenter" width="1392"]<img class="size-full wp-image-781400" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-09-26T014826Z_1535639680_MT1USATODAY16829036_RTRMADP_3_MLB-SEATTLE-MARINERS-AT-LOS-ANGELES-ANGELS.jpg" alt="Shohei Ohtani At Yankee Stadium" width="1392" height="1920" /> Sep 25, 2021; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) triples against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
In his sixth Major League season with the Angels, the 29-year-old has garnered various accolades in both diamond and mound. From ranking in the Top Four in the American League in home runs and recording a second career 40+ HR season as a hitter to leading the AL to pitching his first career complete game and first shutout as a pitcher to record 10+ pitching wins and 30+ HR for a second consecutive season. In every aspect, the baseball season of 2023 will go down in history as the Year of Ohtani. Why? Owing to his “record-setting” deal.

<h2 style="color: #252525;text-align: center">Largest contract in the MLB history: Shohei Ohtani’s contract in detail</h2>
On December 9, 2023, shortly after the conclusion of the MLB Winter Meetings, Shohei Ohtani concluded his initial venture into free agency by inking a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Although the “richest in North American sports history," this deal had a catch: $68 million out of the $70 million annually are deferrals. This clearly means Ohtani is set to earn only $2 million a year from 2024 to 2033. The deferred payments, which is $68 million a year, will be distributed without interest from 2034 to 2043.


[caption id="attachment_2463072" align="aligncenter" width="2339"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2463072" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-12-14T233308Z_1005565715_UP1EJCE1TF7I2_RTRMADP_3_BASEBALL-MLB-OHTANI-NEWSER.jpg" alt="Shohei Ohtani" width="2339" height="1614" /> Baseball - Shohei Ohtani Press Conference - Centerfield Plaza, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California, United States - December 14, 2023 Shohei Ohtani during the press conference REUTERS/Aude Guerrucci[/caption]
By the time Ohtani starts receiving his deferrals, a contract with the Dodgers will no longer bind him. According to experts, the two-way phenomenon is poised to potentially save between $90 and $100 million in state taxes, mainly because he is a resident outside of California after the conclusion of his “pretty interesting” structured contract on paper.

<h2 style="color: #252525;text-align: center">A successful journey: All his achievements so far</h2>
From staying local with Nippon Professional Baseball to becoming the unicorn in the Major League lights, Shohei Ohtani’s baseball journey is a testament to grit, talent, and wanderlust. Here are all his achievements so far:
International

<ul style="color: #252525">
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">World Baseball Classic MVP (2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">All-World Baseball Classic Team (2023)</li>
</ul>
MLB

<ul style="color: #252525">
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">AL Hank Aaron Award (2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">AL home run leader (2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">3× All-Star (2021–2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">2× AL MVP (2021, 2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">4× All-MLB First Team (2021-2023²)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">2× All-MLB Second Team (2021, 2022)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">2× Silver Slugger Award (2021, 2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">3× Edgar Martínez Award (2021–2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">2× AP Athlete of the Year (2021, 2023)</li>
 	<li>Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award (2021)</li>
 	<li>AL triples leader (2021)</li>
 	<li>AL Rookie of the Year (2018)</li>
</ul>
NPB

<ul style="color: #252525">
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">Japan Series champion (2016)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">Pacific League MVP (2016)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">Designated Hitter Best Nine (2016)</li>
 	<li>2× Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize (2016, 2018)</li>
 	<li>2× Pacific League Pitcher Best Nine (2015–2016)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">Pacific League ERA leader (2015)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">Pacific League Battery Award, with Shota Ono (2015)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;color: #252525">WBSC Player of the Year (2015)</li>
 	<li>5× NPB All-Star (2013–2017)</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="color: #252525;text-align: center">Is he married? The truth behind his relationship with Kamalani Dung</h2>
“Ohtani likes to keep his cards close to his chest." Didn’t we already notice this most recently while he was adamant about keeping his free agency moves private? Surprisingly, this applies to not only his professional life but also his personal life. 
Ohtani, who is officially and publicly married to Mamiko Tanaka since the late February of this year, has been a victim of marriage rumors. Although not much is known about Ohtani's past relationships or the woman in his contact, Kamalani Dung, a Hawaiian woman who is said to be a professional softball player, was once strongly linked to the Japanese man.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1585948" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Adobe_Express_20220513_2049360-1024x576-1.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" />
Having represented Puerto Rico in the sport as a right-handed pitcher, Dung is called a "YouTube Pitcher." As the name suggests, Kamalani acquired her softball throwing skills through YouTube videos and tutorials. Even after this, she managed to earn a gold medal at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Incidentally, in the same year, the now-26-year-old posted a picture with Ohtani on her Instagram account. As soon as the post went viral, the baseball fandom was quick to conclude: ‘Ohtani dating Dung’. However, immediately after, Dung cleared the air, stating that she was just a massive fan of Shohei.

<table style="color: #252525;width: 91.9149%">
<tbody style="color: #252525">
<tr style="color: #252525">
<td style="color: #252525;width: 25.2418%;text-align: left">
Age
</td>
<td style="color: #252525;width: 65.3597%;text-align: left">
29
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="color: #252525">
<td style="color: #252525;width: 25.2418%;text-align: left">
Nationality
</td>
<td style="color: #252525;width: 65.3597%;text-align: left">
Japanese
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="color: #252525">
<td style="color: #252525;width: 25.2418%;text-align: left">
Team
</td>
<td style="color: #252525;width: 65.3597%;text-align: left">
Los Angeles Dodgers
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="color: #252525">
<td style="color: #252525;width: 25.2418%;text-align: left">
Net Worth
</td>
<td style="color: #252525;width: 65.3597%;text-align: left">
$50million
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="color: #252525">
<td style="color: #252525;width: 25.2418%;text-align: left">
Endorsements
</td>
<td style="color: #252525;width: 65.3597%;text-align: left">Hugo Boss, Topps, Fanatics, Oakley, ASICS, Seiko Watch, JAL Airlines, Descente, New Balance </td>
</tr>
<tr style="color: #252525">
<td style="color: #252525;width: 25.2418%">
Height
</td>
<td style="color: #252525;width: 65.3597%">
1.93M
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="color: #252525">
<td style="color: #252525;width: 25.2418%">
Weight
</td>
<td style="color: #252525;width: 65.3597%">
94kg
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="color: #252525">
<td style="color: #252525;width: 25.2418%">
Marital Status
</td>
<td style="color: #252525;width: 65.3597%">
Single
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="color: #252525">
<td style="color: #252525;width: 25.2418%">
Parents 
</td>
<td style="color: #252525;width: 65.3597%">
Kayoko Ohtani and Toru Ohtani
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Shohei Ohtani

Know everything about two-way phenom Japanese slugger, reigning AL MVP, and the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.

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Shohei Ohtani: Net Worth 2024, MLB Career, Relationships

<h1 style="text-align: center">Yoshinobu Yamamoto Net Worth 2024: Contract, Earnings, Endorsements and More</h1>
“I am truly excited to wear Dodger Blue and can’t wait to play in front of a packed Dodger Stadium,” said Japan's best pitcher post locking a <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/mlb-baseball-news-la-dodgers-emerge-as-yoshinobu-yamamoto-favorites-overtaking-mets-and-yankees-amidst-intense-three-hundred-million-race/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.</a> Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a 5-foot-10-inch (1.78 m), 177-pound (80 kg) right-handed pitcher, who throws a fastball averaging 95 mph (153 km/h), is Japan's best pitching import ever.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-2404859 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Yamamoto.jpeg" alt="" width="1364" height="1364" />

In December 2023, Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed a 12 year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers, which made him “the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history”. Before Yoshi enters the realms of MLB as a rookie in 2024, his contract, earnings, family etc. deserve a deep dive.
<h2 style="text-align: center">Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s net worth in 2024: A Look into his earnings for the year </h2>
The Japanese pitcher played for the Japan’s NPB's Orix Buffaloes for 6 years (2017-2023). With this, the Japanese man accumulated a net worth of $40 Million with a $28 million average salary for the ongoing year, per the Celebrity Net Worth.

<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2358118" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Yoshinobu-Yamamoto-QH-560x315.jpg" alt="" width="560" height="315" />

The $5 million base salary plus $50 million signing bonus pro-rated for the season, amounting to $9.17 million, makes up his payroll salary for the year 2024. Moreover, there is no information available regarding the endorsements associated with the pitcher.
<h2 style="text-align: center">From where Yoshinobu Yamamoto hails from: Know about his early life and background</h2>
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was born on August 17, 1998 in Bizen, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. While baseball enthusiasts have been eager to know about the personal tidbits of “the best pitcher in Japan”, Yamamoto has chosen to keep his educational and family background in closed doors. 
<h2 style="text-align: center">A star on the mound: A look into the baseball career of Japanese ace</h2>
In 2017, three days after his 19th birthday, Yoshinobu Yamamoto made his Nippon Professional Baseball debut for the Pacific League’s Orix Buffaloes. Yoshi represented his Japan national baseball team in the 2019 exhibition games and the 2020 Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal against Team USA in the latter. 

[caption id="attachment_2034805" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]<img class="wp-image-2034805 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Yoshinobu-Yamamoto.jpg" alt="Yoshinobu Yamamoto" width="1024" height="742" /> Aug 4, 2021; Yokohama, Japan; Team Japan pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (17) throws a pitch against Korea in a baseball semifinal match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

Pitching in two games, starting one, in the tournament and allowing two runs in 7+1⁄3 innings, Yamamoto represented Japan in the 5th World Baseball Classic, with his team winning the gold medal. Moreover, Yoshinobu Yamamoto wasn’t NPB’s “great pitcher” but the “league's no-doubt ace” for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023. 

From winning Pacific League Most Valuable Player in the 2021 season to becoming the first pitcher in NPB history to throw no-hitters in consecutive seasons, Yoshi reigned supreme over the NPB, leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts each of these three seasons.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-2467670 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Yamamoto.jpg" alt="" width="1170" height="1490" />

This unprecedented feat earned him three consecutive Eiji Sawamura Awards, Japan's esteemed Cy Young equivalent. While Major League Baseball has only seen three Triple Crown winners, Japan's Yamamoto stands as a singular force, conquering the feat three times in a row! Over seven seasons with the Orix Buffaloes, Yamamoto dominated as a starter, boasting a phenomenal 1.72 ERA. 
<h2 style="text-align: center">A champion of the game: His achievements and accolades in a nutshell</h2>
From being Japan’s best pitcher to many anticipating him to replicate the same to Major Leagues, Yamamoto’s NPB and International achievements and accolades speak for themselves:

NPB
<ul>
 	<li>Two no-hitters (2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Japan Series champion (2022)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">3× Japanese Triple Crown (2021–2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">3× Pacific League MVP (2021–2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">3× Eiji Sawamura Award (2021–2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">3× Best Nine Award (2021–2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">3× Pacific League Golden Glove Award (2021–2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">3× Best Battery Award with Catcher Kenya Wakatsuki (2021–2023)</li>
 	<li>3× Pacific League wins champion (2021–2023)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Interleague play MVP (2021)</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">4× Pacific League strikeout champion (2020–2023)</li>
 	<li>4× Pacific League ERA champion (2019, 2021–2023)</li>
 	<li>5× NPB All-Star (2018, 2019, 2021–2023)</li>
</ul>
International
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400">Tokyo 2020 All-Olympic Baseball Team (2021)</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: center">His MLB dream fulfilled: How Yoshinobu Yamamoto became pitcher with the biggest MLB contract</h2>
Yamamoto, “a WBC champion, Olympic champion and NPB champion”, signed the eye-popping 12-year, $325 million contract on December 27, 2023, with the Dodgers. The Japanese stars dominated the 2023-24 free agency. While his countryman, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/shohei-ohtani/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shohei Ohtani</a>, signed a 10-year, $700 million contract which is “the richest in North American sports history”, Yoshinobu became “the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history”, joining the long list of the dominant NPB pitchers to jump to the Majors.

[caption id="attachment_2498376" align="aligncenter" width="4960"]<img class="wp-image-2498376 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-12-27T235154Z_1547041216_MT1USATODAY22179765_RTRMADP_3_MLB-LOS-ANGELES-DODGERS-PRESS-CONFERENCE.jpg" alt="Yoshinobu Yamamoto" width="4960" height="3304" /> Dec 27, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Stan Kasten, President and CEO along with Brandon Gomes, executive Vice President and general Manager for the Los Angeles Dodgers, look on as starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) adjusts his hat during an introductory press conference at Dodgers Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

A day after he signed this hefty contract, reporter Noah Camras posted a tweet, which said “when he (Yamamoto) was 19 years old he came to a playoff game at Dodger Stadium and Kenta Maeda was pitching.” This was the primary reason why the young Yamamoto wanted to play in the major league at some point of his career. 

After he entered the realms of MLB through this massive deal, Yamamoto said, “I will stop simply admiring the players that I have looked up to, but strive to become the player that others want to become,” in an interview. 
<h2 style="text-align: center">Is Yoshinobu Yamamoto single? Know the answer</h2>
According to the most recent information, Yamamoto is single with no indication of <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/mlb-baseball-news-is-yoshinobu-yamamoto-in-a-relationship/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">past or present relationships</a>. The 2022 Japan Series champion’s social media revolves around his baseball exploits, emphasizing his one track mind towards baseball.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-2352525 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Perspectives-Yoshinobu-Yamamoto.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="800" />

As they say, ‘everyone has a personal life’, Yoshi is perhaps choosing to shield this bit of his life from the public eye. This individual's dating life is a guessing game, and marriage seems as mythical as a unicorn for now.

It remains to be seen if <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/mlb-baseball-news-exclusive-baseball-expert-jim-callis-picks-japanese-star-over-yoshinobu-yamamoto-predicts-he-will-match-shohei-ohtanis-rare-feat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yoshinobu Yamamoto manages to replicate</a> or go beyond what his compatriot, Shohei Ohtani, has achieved over the years in Major League Baseball.

Know more about Yoshinobu Yamamoto
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Full Name</td>
<td>Yoshinobu Yamamoto</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Birth Date</td>
<td>August 17, 1998</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Birth Place</td>
<td>Bizen, Okayama, Japan</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Height</td>
<td>5-foot-10-inch </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Weight</td>
<td>177  lbs</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nationality</td>
<td> Japanese</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Net Worth</td>
<td>$40 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Salary</td>
<td>$28 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Current Team</td>
<td>Los Angeles Dodgers</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Position</td>
<td>Pitcher</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

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