After spending nearly two months on the injured list, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is set to begin his rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Oklahoma City in Round Rock at Dell Diamond.
According to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, the rookie right-hander will throw two innings and if it goes well, he is likely to make one more rehab start before rejoining the big league club.
On Friday, Yamamoto played catch without any issues and he pitched two innings in a simulated game on Wednesday.
“The ball was coming out of his hand with a lot of life,” Roberts told reporters on Wednesday. “It seems like he’s healthy. As long as he recovers well, then we start homing in on the command and all that other stuff.”
The 26-year-old posted a 6-2 record with a 2.92 earned run average in 14 starts before being placed on the 15-day injured list on June 16. Initially diagnosed with a rotator cuff strain, his injury was later updated to right triceps soreness. On July 13, the Dodgers transferred him to the 60-day injured list.
In an appearance on MLB Network, reporter Jon Morosi noted the impact Yamamoto’s return will have on the Dodgers’ potential playoff rotation:
“Five starters potentially for four spots in the playoff rotation. That includes (Gavin) Stone, (Clayton) Kershaw, (Jack) Flaherty. … (Tyler) Glasnow could be part of that mix too. A lot of big decisions ahead, but the key step is that Yamamoto starts tomorrow in the same series that Jacob deGrom pitches for Round Rock tonight.”
Yamamoto is taking his rehab assignment one batter at a time. He wants to pitch in the playoffs but only if he will help his team win. He isn’t thinking too far ahead at the moment.
“It’s one thing at a time,” the Japanese pitcher said after his sim game. “I’m going to throw some games in September and then let’s see.”
The Dodgers inked Yamamoto to a record-setting 12-year, $325 million contract before the season, marking the largest deal ever given to a pitcher in Major League history.
Before making the jump to the MLB, Yamamoto spent seven seasons with the Orix Buffaloes in Japan, where he dominated the league. He won three consecutive Sawamura Awards — the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young — and claimed the Pacific League MVP honors three years in a row. The last player to achieve that MVP streak in Japan was none other than Ichiro Suzuki.
