Dodgers land Japanese pitching star

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers introduced prized Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto hours after confirming they had inked him to a 12-year deal worth a reported $325 million.

Yamamoto's arrival comes two weeks after the Dodgers inked two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani — a free agent after winning a second American League Most Valuable Player award with the Los Angeles Angels — to a historic 10-year, $700-million deal.

Like Ohtani, Yamamoto said he picked the Dodgers because he wants to play for a Major League Baseball winner.

"It was very important to me to go to a team that wants to win, not only now but in the future as well," he said at an introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium.

"The Dodgers provided that opportunity the most."

The Dodgers beat out a bevy of other suitors to land the 25-year-old Yamamoto, with New York's Yankees and Mets, the San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox among the teams that pursued him.

"I am truly excited to wear Dodger Blue," Yamamoto said in a team-issued statement.

"I can't wait to play in front of a packed Dodger Stadium."

Yamamoto, who became the 12th Japanese-born player in Dodgers history, made his first remarks as a Dodger in English after taking the podium with his new number 18 Dodgers jersey buttoned on over his business suit and tie.

"Good afternoon," he said.

"My name is Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the LA Dodgers."

"I am beyond ecstatic to become a member of this historic franchise and cannot express how much it means to me to be able to call Los Angeles my new home."

Yamamoto arrives after a dominant career in Japan, where he went 70-29 with a 1.82 earned run average in 172 Nippon Professional Baseball games over eight seasons.

He struck out 922, walked 206 and gave up just 36 home runs in 172 innings.

Yamamoto teamed with Ohtani in Japan's victorious World Baseball Classic campaign and was named Japan's Pacific League MVP for the third straight year in November.

That followed his third straight Sawamura Award as Japan's top pitcher.

He won Nippon Professional Baseball pitching triple crown — leading the league in wins, earned run average and strikeouts — in each of the past three seasons.

In what turned out to be his final NPB start, Yamamoto pitched a 14-strikeout complete game on 138 pitches to lead the Orix Buffaloes to victory in game six of the Japan Series.

The Buffaloes ultimately lost the series to the Hanshin Tigers, and they officially posted Yamamoto on 20 November, making him eligible to sign with a Major League Baseball club.

"You don't win three MVP awards by the age of 25 without an exceptional combination of talent, work ethic and mental toughness," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said in a statement.

"He's an elite pitcher with an impressive dedication to his craft who will only become more dynamic in a Dodger uniform."