It was going to be a historical night and the stage was set. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the highly-touted Japanese phenom was finally set to make his debut on an international platform. Yoshi, who signed a record-breaking contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason, was one person, fans have been waiting to see. As anticipation crackled in the air, the potentially legendary career start took an unexpected turn. 

That much-awaited chapter turned out to be barely a paragraph. And not even a very flattering one. Yamamoto’s debut game was a night to forget. Sadly it was a brutal episode that ended after a single disastrous inning, on Thursday. Not only were hopes crushed, but also the optics around Yamamoto might have suffered a blow. 

Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s MLB Debut Drowned As the San Diego Padres Feasted 

Let’s dissect this meltdown – the 25-year-old famous for his pinpoint control, grappled to find the zone. His first career pitch, a fastball, was ripped into left field for a single. And after that, things went downhill fast. Following that, a two-run triple and a pair of RBI singles left the Dodgers in a gaping 5-0 spot even before they recorded an out.

On one hand, the stat line speaks for itself – 1.0 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. On the other, it doesn’t entail the shock of witnessing a pitcher with Yamamoto’s pedigree breakdown so fast. Scouts have spoken highly about his command throughout his dominant career in Japan. After all, he earned the prestigious pitching Triple Crown three consecutive seasons. 

But this hype was soon to dissolve. Spring Training gave a peek into what could be a shaky regular season for the Japanese import. Whispers of concern emerged but the Dodgers downplayed them. They believe these struggles are just about the initial adjustment to Major League Baseball and in time, things will settle down. However, on this night, the adjustments were not seen anywhere. To be further descriptive, the 3x Eiji Sawamura Award winner lacked bite. And why would the San Diego Padres not feast on his pitches? 

Read More : Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Cy Young Aspirations in Danger? Pitch Tipping Concerns Emerge Amidst Spring Training

The Los Angeles Dodgers Deal With a Disappointing Debut Amid Controversies 

The Dodgers, to their credit, are keeping their heads held high. They are additionally currently struggling with the limelight given the Ippei Mizuhara and Shohei Ohtani “massive theft” controversy. In the think of a crucial point in this season, they insist that they won’t overreact to a single bad inning. While understandably there will be some bumps in the road, however, feeling a certain amount of lack of confidence is inevitable especially when the Dodgers are on the radar. 

Read More : “Bust” Chants Starting Early for Pricey Yoshinobu Yamamoto After Abysmal Spring Outing

While the Dodgers navigate their way through the Ohtani-fiasco, unveiling the truth becomes important. And all this must happen while also dealing with the pressures of the new season. With that the responsibility to do a good job not only lies in the team’s hands but also the individual player’s. Despite it being a below-par debut for Yamamoto, the fans believe that he is going to regain his uncrushable form soon.