Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts Has High Expectations for Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Yamamoto has been turning heads at Dodgers camp already.

When the Dodgers signed free agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, it was met with major buzz across baseball. Adding a talent like Yamamoto to an already stacked Los Angeles team seemed unfair, but the Dodgers ownership decided to go all-in this offseason.

Yamamoto agreed to a 12-year, $325 million deal with Los Angeles, which is the largest total contract in baseball history for a pitcher. While he has never thrown a pitch in the major leagues, the Dodgers aren't too worried about him making the transition from Japan.

However, with that type of contract, there are certain expectations for the rookie right-hander. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts understands this and is looking forward to seeing what he does in his first season.

“I’m very confident that he can be a frontline starter,” Roberts said. “I think the first thing I see is his ability to command the baseball with his fastball, he can throw to all quadrants. And then you look at the pitch mix, the weapons that he has — fastball curveball, slider, the split — and to be able to throw those for strikes, to get left-handed hitters out, right-handed hitters out. And the last part, he’s very intelligent, very curious, and he’s going to be prepared and understand how to attack Major League hitters.”

Per Dave Roberts via Dodgers Insider

Yamamoto has all the tools to be successful in the big leagues, but it could be a slight adjustment for him. He will likely be asked to pitch more often than he did in Japan, but the team believes they can help ease him into it all. 

The rookie took his first chance at a live batting practice over the weekend and didn't disappoint. Members of the Dodgers who faced him all raved at his abilities, and it seems that Los Angeles made a great investment in Yamamoto.