Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Is Yoshinobu Yamamoto Already an Early Cy Young Favorite?

Yes. Already.

Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

When the Los Angeles Dodgers committed $325 million to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the expectation wasn’t just excellence, it was history. And now, just a few weeks into his second Major League season, the 26-year-old right-hander is delivering the kind of performances that make that unprecedented investment feel less like a gamble and more like a bargain.

Four starts into 2025, Yamamoto has been nearly untouchable. His latest outing – a seven-inning, 10-strikeout gem against the Texas Rangers, lowered his ERA to a jaw-dropping 0.93, best in the National League.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto now has a 0.93 ERA on the season. 😳 pic.twitter.com/WrrylAbxYE
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 19, 2025

“There’s a lot of time, but I do think that right now, he’s the best pitcher in the National League,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said postgame. “Now, [Paul] Skenes is pretty good, too, so no disrespect.”

Dave Roberts isn’t alone in that belief. Around the league, Yamamoto is starting to turn heads, not just for his numbers, but for how he’s getting there. His pitch mix is art in motion. The fastball hits corners like it’s on GPS. The splitter dives late and hard. The curveball floats just enough. There’s very little flash, and even less margin for hitters to work with.

This version of Yamamoto, the efficient, commanding, ice-veined ace, feels like the one the Dodgers were dreaming about when they outbid the rest of baseball for his signature. But it didn’t always look like this. Yamamoto’s rookie season in 2024 was good, but not dominant. He tweaked his mechanics during spring training, dealt with bouts of inconsistent command.

ALSO READ: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Masterclass Against Cubs Shows Why He’s Worth Every Penny

First real flashes of what Yoshinobu Yamamoto can do was evident during a brilliant seven-inning shutout performance against the Yankees last June, shortly after which he was moved to the IL with a strained rotator cuff. He returned in time to help power a World Series run, shaking off early playoff jitters to become one of the Dodgers’ most reliable arms down the stretch.

That postseason run hinted at what was to come. Now, fully healthy and far more comfortable stateside, Yamamoto looks unshackled.

So, Cy Young Yoshinobu Yamamoto?

Friday’s performance was a statement. Against a potent Texas lineup and a future Hall of Famer on the other side, Yamamoto controlled every inning. He looked like the ace of a staff that already includes the likes of Tyler Glasnow and Walker Buehler. And more importantly, he looked like someone who wants more than just a strong start to the year. He looked like someone ready to chase a Cy Young Award.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto this year:

5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 K vs. Cubs
5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 10 K vs. Tigers
6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 5 K vs. Phillies
6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 9 K vs. Cubs
7 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 10 K vs. Rangers

He has a 0.93 ERA over 29 innings. The Dodgers ace may just be baseball’s best pitcher. pic.twitter.com/oEmW5BEfFk
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) April 19, 2025

That conversation will evolve as the season unfolds, of course. Names like Zack Wheeler, Logan Webb, and yes, Paul Skenes, will all be in the mix. But right now, no one in the National League is pitching better. No one is commanding games with Yamamoto’s blend of precision and purpose. For a pitcher generously listed at 5-foot-10, Yamamoto looms large. And for the Dodgers, every start he makes feels like another reminder of why they pushed their chips all the way in.

ALSO READ: Shohei Ohtani Pitching Update: “Still a Couple of Months Away”

Four starts. Thirty-nine strikeouts. An ERA under 1.00. He’s not just settling in. He’s taking over.

Dodgers

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Mohsin Baldiwala

mlb

Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.