Dodgers News: Andrew Friedman in Attendance to Scout Top Japanese Pitcher

With as much success Yamamoto has had in the NPB, he could possibly see a future with the MLB.

It may have been the offseason, but Andrew Friedman remained active in scouting some of the best talent from around the world. Friedman recently traveled to Japan to watch one of the county’s top pitchers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Before heading to team camp in Glendale last week, Friedman made it a point to make a stop in Japan to see the young pitcher in action. 

#Dodgers Andrew Friedman has visited Team #Japan in Miyazaki !! He mentioned about Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki & Munetaka Murakami . Looks like he is really interested in Yoshinobu Yamamoto. pic.twitter.com/I0sppfpZda

— Joseph Kim (@blackwings2011) February 19, 2023

Yamamoto has been a standout player in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league for the past few years.

The 24-year-old has played for the Orix Buffaloes since 2017. Across his entire career, the pitcher has posted a 1.85 ERA with a 54-23 overall record. His impressive pitching skills have clearly garnered attention from the states.

As the World Baseball Classic approaches, more fans will get a chance to become familiar with Yamamoto's game as he represents Team Japan alongside MLB pitchers Yu Darvish and Shohei Ohtani. 

Yamamoto could be the next international star to join the Dodgers' ranks. He has been very successful in the NPB, and many fans would probably love to see him make the overseas jump to the MLB in the near future.

This season, LA has a roster full of talented pitchers and young prospects including Booby Miller and Ryan Pepiot, so that area is not a concern at the moment, but it is never a bad thing to think ahead of the game. 

Depending on whether or not pitchers like Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urias stay with the Dodgers in the next few years, the organization would certainly find a need to bring the Japanese pitcher to Los Angeles.