Yamamoto's $325M Debut Disaster

In his debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who signed a record $325 million, 12-year contract, lasted just one inning against the San Diego Padres on Thursday night. The 25-year-old right-hander faced a tough start, trailing 2-0 after just nine pitches and ultimately giving up five runs before the inning ended.

It was a challenging outing, with Yamamoto needing 43 pitches to secure three outs, resulting in a daunting 45.00 ERA.

San Diego took advantage of Yamamoto's struggles, with Michael Grove stepping in to relieve him as the Dodgers found themselves trailing 5-1. Yamamoto's debut was marred by four hits allowed, along with a walk, a hit batter, and a wild pitch. His command seemed off, with just 23 of his pitches finding the strike zone. Despite averaging 95.4 mph with his fastball, Yamamoto's varied pitch selection 14 fastballs, 11 cutters, 10 curveballs, and eight splitters couldn't stave off the Padres' offense.

The first inning saw a series of impactful plays from the Padres' hitters. Xander Bogaerts wasted no time, singling to left on the first pitch he saw, a 96.6 mph fastball. Fernando Tatis Jr. followed, taking a full-count splitter and getting hit by a pitch, before Jake Cronenworth tripled into the right-field corner, extending San Diego's lead to 2-0.

Manny Machado drew a walk, prompting a visit from pitching coach Mark Prior just 15 pitches into Yamamoto's outing. Ha-Seong Kim capitalized with a sacrifice fly, while a wild pitch advanced Machado. Jurickson Profar then struck out on an inside cutter. However, the Padres weren't done, as Luis Campusano's RBI double and Tyler Wade's run-scoring single further extended their lead to 5-0. Rookie Jackson Merrill struck out on an inside curveball to end the inning.

The Dodgers' struggles in the first inning were highlighted by the fact that they allowed five runs, a feat that occurred only once last season. Despite his rocky start, Yamamoto's pedigree as a two-time Pacific League MVP for the Orix Buffaloes and his record-breaking contract with the Dodgers underscore the expectations placed upon him as he navigates his debut season in Major League Baseball.