Yoshinobu Yamamoto starting to live up to hype

Yoshinobu Yamamoto faced a great deal of pressure before ever throwing a pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yamamoto signed a record-breaking contract with the Dodgers, a 12 year deal worth $325 million. That contract is the most guaranteed money ever given to a pitcher, something made all the more remarkable given that he did not have any major league experience. 

The Dodgers' optimism was understandable. Yamamoto had been the best pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball, a five time All-Star who ended his time with the Orix Buffaloes by winning three consecutive pitching Triple Crowns, Sawamura Awards (the Japanese version of the Cy Young) and Pacific League MVP awards. He joined Ichiro Suzuki (1994-96) and Hisashi Yamada (1976-78) as the only players to win three consecutive MVP awards. He was the fifth pitcher to win three Sawamura Awards, joining Masaichi Kanada (1956-58) as the only players to win the award in three consecutive seasons.

Yamamoto was hit hard in his major league debut, allowing five runs on four hits and a walk in just one inning of work. He said that he struggled to execute his pitches from the stretch but also knew how to fix the issue.

That has proven to be the case. Yamamoto has fired 10 scoreless innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out 13 batters since the rough start. He has been able to command his arsenal better, and those adjustments he made from the stretch have helped show dominant force he was expected to be.