Oh boy, did you hear? The Los Angeles Dodgers just took down the San Diego Padres, 5-2. And guess where? All the way over in Seoul, South Korea. Yep, you read that right. Baseball’s got its global sneakers on, kicking off the Major League Baseball regular season in style. And they’re not done yet; they’ve got another face-off scheduled for Thursday morning. After that, it’s back to the good ol’ U.S. of A., with the official “Opening Day” set for March 28.
Now, about Wednesday’s game. It was kinda special, you know? Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow, among others, made their Dodgers debut. And, oh boy, was it something! But hold your horses, ’cause Thursday’s game? It’s got its own headline act. Enter Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
This guy, Yamamoto, is stepping onto an MLB mound for the first time ever. And it’s not just any debut. We’re talking about a pitcher who’s inked a 12-year deal worth a cool $325 million over the winter. Talk about making an entrance, right? Before joining the big leagues, Yamamoto was turning heads in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league. The man’s a legend there, bagging three consecutive Most Valuable Player and Eiji Sawamura Awards. That’s their version of the Cy Young, in case you were wondering.
CBS Sports had some folks talking up Yamamoto’s game. They’re all like, “This guy’s command? Top-notch. His arsenal? Killer.” He’s slinging a mid-90s fastball like it’s nobody’s business, mixing it up with a splitter that batters just can’t seem to hit and a curveball that spins more than a DJ’s turntable. And get this—each of those pitches? Strikes over 65% of the time. The dude’s practically an artist with a baseball.
So, you’re probably thinking, “I gotta see this Yamamoto guy in action.” Well, you’re in luck. Here’s how you can catch his MLB debut:
Yoshinobu Yamamoto makes MLB debut
Date: Thursday, March 21 | Time: 6:05 a.m. ET (3:05 a.m. PT)
Location: Gocheok Sky Dome (Seoul, Republic of Korea)
Live stream: fuboTV (try for free), MLB.TV | TV: ESPN, SportsNet LA
Probable pitchers: RHP Joe Musgrove (SD) vs. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD)
Odds: LAD -183 | SD +152 | O/U: 8.5
So, there you have it. Whether you’re a die-hard baseball fan or just in it for the spectacle, Yamamoto’s debut is shaping up to be something you won’t want to miss. Set your alarms, brew some coffee, and get ready for some early morning baseball magic.
