Shohei Ohtani Didn’t Push Yoshinobu Yamamoto to Join Dodgers
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A poll fans asking Dodgers fans about their wish list heading into 2024 would have had Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto at the top. For much of the offseason, imagining Andrew Friedman would land both superstar free agents felt more like a dream than a real possibility.
Now, as the new year begins, both Yamamoto and Ohtani are slated play for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024 and beyond.
Similar to Ohtani's free agency, Yamamoto's was rife with speculation about the attributes he desired in an MLB team. A big question for Dodgers fans: what role would Ohtani play in trying to bring the 25-year-old pitcher to Los Angeles?
On Dec. 21, the day Yamamoto agreed to terms on a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers, reports trickled out that Ohtani and Yamamoto were on the guestlist at an NFL game that day.
But Ohtani never personally made a strong push for Yamamoto to come to the Dodgers. When asked about Ohtani's role in his free agency, Yamamoto said:
He was never really pushy about like, 'Hey come to the Dodgers.' He mentioned over and over again, 'Wherever you end up, I’m going to support you, I’m going to be rooting you on.'
The quote suggests Ohtani, while a fierce competitor on the field, holds a more supportive sentiment for his WBC teammate. Maybe this was strategic on his part, too. Yamamoto also commented about how Ohtani's approach impacted his thought process:
But at the same time, he was really open and receptive to any questions that I may have had in this whole entire process so that really meant a lot.
It seems Ohtani just wants to see Yamamoto succeed regardless of where he plays. Now that they share a locker room again, he won't have to look far to get a glimpse of Yamamoto's success.
