Trusted Teammates to Respected Foe: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Reveals Former NPB Comrade He Looks Forward to Battling

The MLB journey of Yoshinobu Yamamoto officially started on Wednesday. The 25-year-old was revealed in front as a Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher. However, it seems that the past of the WBC-winning pitcher has not left him behind. It may return to the focus of the 2024 season starting, all thanks to Yamamoto’s wish to meet this Boston Red Sox star at the diamond. Do you know they played together in NPB?

Given that NPB and MLB are played 6000 miles apart, there is a rare chance of them sharing a lot of commons. However, this theory doesn’t strictly apply due to multiple Japanese players playing their trade in the major league. It includes Masataka Yoshida, who joined the Sox and impressed everyone in his first MLB season. Now in 2024, the left fielder will look to add more to it. But can Yamamoto’s wish to face him add a challenge to that?

Masataka Yoshida Is the ‘First’ Player Yoshinobu Yamamoto Look Forward to Facing in 2024

It was the best moment for Yoshinobu Yamamoto as he got a chance to express his thoughts as a Dodger. Notably, the pitcher did use this and answered many queries about what made him sign for LA, and Shohei Ohtani was the main reason behind this move. However, with all this, the 25-year-old also shared his wish for the 2024 season.

Notably, when Yamamoto was asked which player he was looking forward to facing, he named Masataka Yoshida. The reason behind this is their old association in Japan playing for the Orix Buffaloes. Now, in the rival team, Yamamoto wants to add another dimension to that partnership, even if it adds to the challenge for his former teammate.

Yamamoto vs Yoshida, July 2024 at the Dodger Stadium

If Yamamoto’s wish is concerned, months are left in it, turning into a reality. The first instance will be when Los Angeles hosts Boston on July 19. It will put the ace pitcher against Yoshida at the diamond. Though it will be the first meeting between the two Japanese, Yamamoto will look to stamp the dominance LA made on Yoshida in 2023.

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