Chicago Cubs Executive Will Be On Hand for Phenom's Next Start

The Chicago Cubs are currently in the hunt to make the postseason for the first time since 2020. However, that is not stopping the front office from planning out upcoming moves in free agency.

One of the most coveted prospects on the market will be Japanese phenom pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is eligible to be signed my MLB teams this offseason.

The Cubs have major interest in acquiring the starter in what will be a highly competitive race.

USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale reports that Chicago's president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, will travel to Japan to see the phenom's next start in person.

This comes after Yamamoto threw a no-hitter in his last start for the Orix Buffaloes on Saturday in front of 29 MLB scouts.

The 25-year-old struck out eight batters in the game, walking one batter and hitting another. He extended his scoreless innings streak to 42 and has a record of 14-5 with a 1.26 ERA this season.

Yamamoto is coming off winning back-to-back Pacific League MVP awards and consecutive Triple Crowns, awarded to pitchers who post the most wins, most strikeouts and lowest ERA in the same year.

He could be on his way to winning those awards for a third straight season, as he currently has the lowest ERA of his entire seven-year professional career.

This is the second no-hitter of the phenom's career, throwing his first one back in 2022.

The Cubs and Hoyer were aggressive in signing Japanese hitting phenom Seiya Suzuki to a big contract in 2022. It looks like the franchise will be in the market to add a Japanese pitching phenom this offseason, as the executive is traveling to evaluate Yamamoto in person.