Yoshinobu Yamamoto Benefitting From Being Dodgers Teammate With Shohei Ohtani, Says Dave Roberts
The Los Angeles Dodgers' two biggest acquisitions this offseason were free agents Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Dodgers managed to secure both of the top free agents on the market, which manager Dave Roberts believes has been helpful for both players.
For Yamamoto, this is his first time in Major League Baseball after seven years playing in baseball's highest level in Japan. By teaming up with Ohtani, who made the same transition six years ago, Yamamoto has someone who has been through the same experience.
“I think Shohei coming here six years ago [with the Angels] and not having a fellow countryman to help support him was different and difficult at times. But for Yoshinobu to come here and have a [WBC] teammate, a fellow countryman, kind of show him the ropes and support him … has been great.”
— Dave Roberts, via Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.
In addition, Roberts pointed out their shared native language likely makes it easier on both of them.
“I really believe comfort leads to performance and confidence, so to have someone that speaks your language, whether it’s Spanish, English, Japanese, Korean, it just makes things more comfortable and more familiar. I believe it’s going to help Shohei more, I really do. Not only Yoshinobu.”
— Dave Roberts, via Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.
The two players have already appeared to form a bond. When Yamamoto made his Cactus League start, Ohtani traveled with the team to watch Yamamoto, even though he wasn't playing in the game. Later in the game, Ohtani was hilariously seen waving Yamamoto back to the dugout after he got the third out in the inning.
Though Yamamoto said in December he would have signed with the Dodgers even if Ohtani didn't, it seems like a best-case scenario that the two stars landed on the same team.
