Dodgers News: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Draws Comparison to Multi-Time Cy Young Winning Pitcher

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has high praise for his Japanese ace.

The Los Angeles Dodgers added the best player in baseball in Shohei Ohtani this offseason. But they didn't stop there.

After picking up the best player in baseball and the No. 1 overall free agent, they decided to go after the second-best free agent and No. 1 pitcher, Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. 

Yamamoto has yet to pitch in the States, but that didn't stop the Dodgers and other teams from pursuing his talents in free agency.

Yamamoto has some of the nastiest stuff in the game, and won three straight Sawamura awards in Japan, the NPB's version of the Cy Young.

If all pans out, Yamamoto will be among the best pitchers in the league and a Dodger legend when all is said and done. The sky is the limit for Yamamoto, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts realizes it. 

Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times said Roberts compared his new ace to a two-time NL Cy Young award winner in former San Francisco Giant Tim Lincecum. 

"Manager Dave Roberts compared Yamamoto with a former teammate from his own playing days, Tim Lincecum. The 5-foot-11 Lincecum won two Cy Young Awards with the San Francisco Giants."

Dodgers right-handed ace, Walker Buehler, added to his manager's comparison to Yamamoto. 

“We’ve seen a lot of examples of those guys,” Buehler said. “Tim Lincecum is the first guy you think of, and a lot of people kind of followed that mold, I guess.”

(per Walker Buehler via LA Times)

For one, their frames are eerily similar. Lincecum stands at 5-foot-11, while Yamamoto stands at 5-foot-10. Although they aren't big in stature, they make up for it in talent.

Lincecum was among the best pitchers in the late 2000s, led the National League in strikeouts for three consecutive seasons, and was named an All-Star four times. He also helped the Giants win three World Series, and excelled in the postseason.

As for Yamamoto, he is just getting started. But he has the chance to accomplish what Lincecum did. He's barely 25 years old and holds all the attributes to be great. He's athletic, has excellent body awareness, and can make adjustments when needed.

Yamamoto is a big question mark entering the 2024 season and beyond. But his sky high potential is the reason he's the highest paid pitcher in MLB history.