How Yoshinobu Yamamoto made the 2025 World Series his greatest moment

toronto — Shortly after the Dodgers won Game 6 of the World Series, Yoshinobu Yamamoto approached his longtime personal trainer.

Yamamoto lowered his head and said to Osamu Yada: “Thank you for everything this year.”

Yamamoto thought his season was over. He threw 96 pitches over six innings, and joked in the postgame press conference that he wanted to cheer for his team rather than play again the next day. Manager Dave Roberts had the same idea, saying Yamamoto would be the only pitcher unavailable for Game 7.

The coach had other ideas.

“Let’s see if you can throw the ball in the bullpen tomorrow,” Yada said.

Just by being in the bullpen, Yamamoto could give the Dodgers a psychological advantage over the Toronto Blue Jays, Yada said.

“That’s how I was tricked,” Yamamoto said in Japanese, laughing.

Yada’s guiding hand turned Yamamoto into a legend on Saturday night.

By pitching the final two innings of an 11-inning, 5-4 championship-clinching victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, Yamamoto won his third World Series game.

When Alejando Kirk forced a groundout into a double play in the final game, Yamamoto removed his hat and raised his arms toward the sky. Catcher Will Smith rushed to the mound and caught him by the waist.

“I felt a joy I had never felt before,” Yamamoto said.

Yamamoto pitched a complete game in Game 2. He pitched six more in Game 6. His contributions in Game 7 increased his series total to 17 innings, during which he allowed just two runs.

His throwback performance earned him the franchise’s Most Valuable Player award, as well as universal admiration.

“I really think he’s the No. 1 pitcher in the world,” Shohei Ohtani said in Japanese. “Everyone on the team thinks so too.”

Freddie Freeman marveled at the workload for the 5-foot-10 Yamamoto, who was sidelined for three months last year with shoulder issues.

“I mean he started last night,” Freeman said. “He threw the most innings out of our pitchers tonight.”

Freeman noted that in addition to pitching in three games, Yamamoto also prepared to pitch in game four. Two days after his complete game in Game 2, he got ready in the bullpen for a potential 19th inning pitch in Game 3. The Dodgers won that game in the 18th inning.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Freeman said.

President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman said of Yamamoto’s Game 7 performance, “For him to get the same stuff he got the night before is truly the greatest accomplishment I’ve ever seen on a major league baseball field.”

Did Friedman think any other pitcher could have done what Yamamoto did in this series?

“No, I don’t,” Friedman said. “Actually, yesterday morning, I didn’t necessarily think Yama could either.”

Friedman said he did not think much of it when he was notified after Game 6 that Yamamoto was receiving treatment from Yada at the team hotel with the intention of participating in Game 7. Friedman was told the next morning that Yamamoto had received another round of treatment.

The possibility of Yamamoto throwing in Game 7 became real for Friedman after he performed his trademark javelin routine and catch play at Rogers Center. Yamamoto still wasn’t convinced.

“I didn’t think I was going to throw the ball,” Yamamoto said. “But I felt good when I practiced, and the next thing I knew I was on the mound (in the game).”

Yamamoto’s translator, Yoshihiro Sonoda, was prepared.

The superstitious Sonoda wears the same lucky pair of underwear back in Yamamoto’s court days. He wore bunny boxers in Game 6. Since Yamamoto might play again, Sonoda wore the same boxers in Game 7.

“Just in case they don’t wash,” Sonoda admitted.

Yamamoto has never competed on consecutive days as a pro, either in the United States or Japan. When he was called upon to relieve Blake Snell in the ninth inning, he wasn’t sure how he would perform.

Inheriting two baserunners from Snell with one out, Yamamoto loaded the bases by sinking Kirk. He forced Dalton Varsho to hit a home run, only to throw a curveball to Ernie Clement that was driven into the wall in left field. Defensive replacement Andy Buggs collided with Kiki Hernandez on the warning track but kept the ball, preventing the Blue Jays from scoring the walk-off goal.

Yamamoto pitched a 1-2-3 10th inning and went into the bottom of the 11th inning with a 5-4 lead, thanks to Smith’s homer in the top of the inning.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. started the inning by pulling a 96.9 mph fastball for a double and advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Yamamoto walked Addison Barger to put runners on the corners, setting up Kirk’s double play to end the game.

“I really couldn’t believe it,” Yamamoto said. “I was so excited that I couldn’t even remember what kind of shot I made at the end. When my teammates ran towards me, I felt the happiest I had ever felt up until that moment.”

Clayton Kershaw, whom Yamamoto wanted to send into retirement with another championship, embraced him tighter than ever. Roberts swallowed his hug.

Yamamoto was moved to tears.

Yamamoto was so caught up in the moment, he didn’t seem to realize the extent of what he had just done. In time, he will.

On a night when the Dodgers cemented their dynasty, Yamamoto made this World Series his own.