What It Takes to Be a MLB Star? Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Answer That in Amazon Prime’s New 3-Part Series

It isn’t surprising that sports stars are still the ones who inspire the most number of people. It takes years of hard work, disappointments, and unreal dedication to become the master of your domain. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is one such player. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar’s rise from being a generational NPB pitcher to the highest-paid MLB pitcher is beyond inspiring. And now, it’s been turned into an immortal tale of dreams. 

From the day he first stepped foot in the United States, Yamamoto has captured the imaginations of every baseball fan. From his clean pitching style to his great fashion choices the Japanese superstar has always remained in the headlines. So it was only a matter of time before one of the major studios/streamers took advantage of his growing popularity. 

Now Amazon Prime has released a Japanese 3-part series that chronicles the entire journey of Yoshinobu Yamamoto. From his teenage days till his MLB beginnings, the series covers every major milestone of the 25-year-old. Roughly translated as “Yoshinobu Yamamoto Exclusive – His Challenge to MLB,” the series covers Yamamoto’s unusual techniques and experiences that have turned him into such an iconic baseball figure in Japan.

From his javelin throws to moments before signing that massive $325 million deal, the series has a deluge of tales to tell. And with Yoshinobu Yamamoto being at the center of it, the documentary is bound to give an unseen look at this fast-rising star. But while this is a great moment for all Japanese fans, the fans of other countries might have to wait.

As of now, there’s no clarity on whether the series will be available for viewers outside of Japan or not. Interestingly, the three-part series has dedicated each episode to some of the most iconic and popular stories of Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The javelin throw and first MLB victory – Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s series covers all 

While the first episode almost exclusively focuses on Yamamoto’s contract negotiations, the other two go in-depth on his training methods. One of the most interesting aspects of Yamamoto’s training is his usage of a different projectile to strengthen his pitching. Per Wall Street Journal, Yamamoto’s guru Osamu Yada created a way to condition the 25-year-old’s body by throwing javelins. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers star revealed that throwing a javelin gives him the same movement as throwing a ball. However, when throwing the former, he’s forced to use his entire body. That reduces the usage of Yamamoto’s elbow and, as a result, improves its health. That has been one of the reasons why Yamamoto’s never been seriously injured in his career. A must-watch series for a serial winner? Amazon Prime may have a jackpot in its hands.