LA Dodgers buy Japanese phenom Yamamoto

KTLA.com, AP.org; Seth Auberon, CC Liu (eds.) Wisdom Quarterly

Bought and sold like modern chattel

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Just over six years after Yoshinobu Yamamoto [hired for hundreds of millions in a 12-year contract] watched a playoff game from the raucous Dodger Stadium stands and decided he absolutely had to play in the major leagues one day, the right-hander put on his white No. 18 jersey and a blue cap in the center field pavilion.

The consensus best pitcher outside North America reached one of his goals Wednesday, joining the Dodgers on a 12-year contract that’s reportedly the largest and longest ever guaranteed to a major league pitcher.

Yamamoto shows Americans how baseball is played.

• LA Dodgers officially introduce Yoshinobu Yamamoto (KTLA) “I am beyond ecstatic to become a member of this historic franchise,” Yamamoto said at Wednesday’s press conference. “And I cannot express how much it means to me to be able to call Los Angeles my new home.”
• VIDEO: How Yamamoto got all that money (Jomboy Media)
• Dodgers' Double Play: Yamamoto to join Ohtani (laist.com)
• Is he Zen from Bizen or Shinto from San'yō? He's capitalist now. Who is Yoshinobu Yamamoto? Meet Japanese star
• These American Buddhist monastics want their faith to be known for more than just mindfulness | WUNC

But the 25-year-old ace of Japan’s top league won’t be satisfied without many chances to experience the Los Angeles playoff atmosphere he absorbed as a teenager watching Kenta Maeda on the mound at LA's Chavez Ravine in 2017.

Japanese Buddhist monks compete in test of skills in the Japanese style

While he plays alongside Shohei Ohtani with his star-studded new club, Yamamoto also intends to inspire any dreaming youngsters in the Dodger Stadium stands.

“From today moving forward, I promise to all the fans of LA that I will focus my everything to become a better player, and to become a world champion as a member of the Dodgers,” Yamamoto said through his interpreter.

“I will stop simply admiring the players that I have looked up to, but rather strive to become the player that others want to become.” Yoshinobu Yamamoto joins the LA Dodgers, vows to compete for championships alongside Ohtani | KTLA

Yamamoto will learn English now that he's rich