How Yoshinobu Yamamoto made the 2025 World Series his greatest moment

TORONTO — Shortly after the Dodgers won Game 6 of the World Series, Yoshinobu Yamamoto approached his longtime personal trainer.

Lowering his head, Yamamoto said to Osamu Yada, “Thank you for everything this year.

Yamamoto thought his season was over. He had thrown 96 pitches in six innings, and he joked in the postgame press conference that he wanted to cheer on his team rather than pitch again the next day. Manager Dave Roberts had the same thought, saying Yamamoto would be the only pitcher unavailable in Game 7.

The coach had other ideas.

“Let’s see if you can pitch the bullpen tomorrow,” Yada said.

By simply being in the bullpen, Yada said, Yamamoto could give the Dodgers a psychological advantage over the Toronto Blue Jays.

“That’s how I got fooled,” Yamamoto said in Japanese, laughing.

Yada’s guiding hand turned Yamamoto into a legend Saturday night.

Pitching the final 2 ⅔ innings of a 5-4, 11-inning victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, Yamamoto won his third World Series game.

When he forced Alejando Kirk into a game-ending double play, Yamamoto removed his cap and raised his arms to the sky. Catcher Will Smith rushed to the mound and lifted him up by the waist.

“I felt a joy that I had never felt before,” Yamamoto said.

Dodgers catcher Will Smith picks up Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto after the final out of a 5-4, 11-inning victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

Yamamoto pitched a complete game in Game 2. He pitched six more in Game 6. His contributions in Game 7 increased his series total to 17 ⅔ innings, during which he allowed only two runs.

This performance earned him the series’ most valuable player award, as well as universal admiration.

“I really think he’s the No. 1 pitcher in the world,” Shohei Ohtani said in Japanese. “Everyone on the team thinks so too.”

Freddie Freeman marveled at the workload shouldered by the 5-foot-10 Yamamoto, who was out for three months last year with shoulder problems.

“I mean, he pitched last night and started,” Freeman said. “He threw the most innings of our pitchers tonight.”

Freeman pointed out that in addition to pitching three games, Yamamoto also warmed up to pitch a fourth. Two days after his complete game in Game 2, he suited up in the bullpen to pitch a potential 19th inning in Game 3. The Dodgers won that game in the 18th inning.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Freeman said.

President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said of Yamamoto’s Game 7 performance: “For him to have the same things as the day before is truly the greatest accomplishment I’ve ever seen on a major league baseball field.”

Did Friedman think any other pitcher could have done what Yamamoto did in this series?

“No, I don’t,” Friedman said. “Actually, yesterday morning I didn’t necessarily think Yama could either.”

Friedman said he didn’t think much of it when he was informed after Game 6 that Yamamoto was receiving treatment from Yada at the team hotel with plans to possibly pitch in Game 7. Friedman learned the next morning that Yamamoto had received another round of treatment.

The possibility of Yamamoto throwing in Game 7 became real for Friedman after he performed his javelin throw routine and played catch at the Rogers Center. Yamamoto still wasn’t convinced.

Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, left, celebrates with Shohei Ohtani and teammates after a 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series at Rogers Center on Saturday.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

“I didn’t think I would pitch,” Yamamoto said. “But I felt good when I was practicing, and the next thing I knew I was on the mound (during the game).”

Yamamoto’s interpreter, Yoshihiro Sonoda, was ready.

The superstitious Sonoda wears the same pair of lucky underwear on the days Yamamoto is on the field. He wore the rabbit-themed boxers for Game 6. Sensing that Yamamoto might pitch again, Sonoda wore the same boxers for Game 7.

“Just in case,” Sonoda admitted, “I didn’t wash them.”

Yamamoto had never pitched on consecutive days as a professional, either in the United States or Japan. When he was called upon to relieve Blake Snell in the ninth inning, he wasn’t sure how he would perform.

Inheriting two baserunners from Snell with one out, Yamamoto loaded the bases by diving Kirk. He forced Dalton Varsho into a force at home, only to throw a curveball to Ernie Clement that was pushed against the wall in left field. Defensive replacement Andy Pages crashed into Kiké Hernández on the warning track, but kept the ball, preventing the Blue Jays from scoring the go-ahead run.

Yamamoto pitched a 1-2-3 10th inning and entered the bottom of the 11th with a 5-4 lead, thanks to a Smith homer in the top of the inning.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. started the inning by firing a 96.9 mph fastball for a double and advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Yamamoto walked Addison Barger to put runners on the corners, setting up Kirk’s game-ending double play.

“I really couldn’t believe it,” Yamamoto said. “I was so excited that I didn’t even remember what type of throw I threw at the end. When my teammates ran towards me, I felt the most joy I have felt so far.”

Clayton Kershaw, who Yamamoto wanted to retire with another championship, hugged him harder than he had ever kissed him. Roberts swallowed him in his arms.

Yamamoto was moved to tears.

Overwhelmed by the moment, Yamamoto did not seem to have grasped the magnitude of what he had just done. In time it will.

The night the Dodgers solidified their dynasty, Yamamoto made that World Series his own.