Yoshinobu Yamamoto Set to Achieve No-Hitter This Year

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is poised to throw a no-hitter this season. You might think that sounds far-fetched, but I really believe it—Yamamoto will achieve that feat.

Still skeptical? Just ask Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. He seems to be on board with the idea, saying, “That wouldn’t surprise me.” In fact, he went further, stating, “I think so.”

And it’s significant that Roberts holds this belief. Achieving a no-hitter is an event that’s only occurred 326 times in baseball history, roughly twice a season. Notably, Yamamoto didn’t pitch one last year.

Interestingly, even legends like Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, and Steve Carlton never accomplished it. Yet, given Yamamoto’s performance this season, it certainly appears he’s on track. The small but talented Japanese right-hander has thrown no-hitters in all of his four starts, and as his long-time trainer says, he’s still in the early stages of the season.

Trainer Osamu Yada noted that the offseason training is aimed to peak by late summer. With how well Yamamoto is pitching right now, one can’t help but wonder how dominant he could be as the season progresses.

In fact, I was so confident in his potential no-hitter that I jokingly suggested to him a strategy that could ease the tension for media members—let the leadoff batter get a hit every game. Sportswriters generally dread no-hitters; those games often mean more deadlines and extensive coverage, which can be a bit stressful.

Yamamoto chuckled at my comment about the leadoff hitter. Of course, it was meant in jest—well, mostly.

As reality has unfolded, my joke is starting to feel a bit prophetic. In the Dodgers’ 2-1 win against the Mets recently, Yamamoto did allow a leadoff home run to Francisco Lindor, but he held them off until Bo Bichette hit a double with two outs in the seventh. In total, he pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing just four hits and one walk. I can only imagine the relief among his teammates, who might have been anxious given their experiences with the Japanese media.

Regarding Lindor’s home run, Yamamoto joked, “I guess that’s because I told him to score a point quickly. The ball went right in the middle.” His humorous take highlights his light-hearted approach to the game.

Despite the home run, he remains confident about his chances for throwing a no-hitter. “I’m feeling better every week,” he shared. “Today, my splitter improved a lot, and I was able to throw in situations with many swings and misses. I think it was the best I felt this year. I’ll keep practicing hard to make comments like this again next week.”

Yamamoto has walked only three batters in 25 2/3 innings, which points to his development as a pitcher. “Since last summer, I’ve been strategizing how to start at-bats and where to go from there,” he explained. “I’ve started getting strikes with various pitches, and I’m pitching closer to my vision.”

His efficiency is another reason Roberts believes a no-hitter is within reach. “You need to be effective enough to get through the ninth inning with 110 or 115 pitches,” he said. “Yamamoto can do that.”

Yamamoto has already accomplished this before. He pitched two no-hitters while playing for the Orix Buffaloes in Japan. Last year, he almost added another in the majors, but a late-game home run from Jackson Holiday dashed that hope.

Interestingly, Yamamoto’s interpreter, Yoshihiro Sonoda, has a superstitious routine; he wears what he refers to as “lucky” underwear on pitch days. He also keeps a notebook with pitch details. But when Holiday came up to bat, Sonoda was so eager to celebrate that he put the notebook aside.

“I wish I had noted that at-bat…” Sonoda lamented. It’s a regret he’ll probably carry for a while.

Whether with or without his lucky charm, I firmly believe Yamamoto will throw a no-hitter this year.