The Los Angeles Dodgers fans buzzed with excitement, only to be disappointed shortly after. As the young pitching phenom Yoshinobu Yamamoto took the mound for his second Cactus League start, hopeful emotion soon turned into criticism and ridicule. Having impressed in his debut, expectations were high for the Japanese import. However, those hopes were dashed. As the Dodgers revealed Yamamoto’s stats, fans poured in their disappointment.

Quite uncharacteristic of his usual dominance, Yoshi’s stats, this time around, brought about unhappiness to the fans’ faces. And in no way did the Blue Crew faithful hold back. Flooding social media with their sentiments about the “highly overpaid” pitcher.

Mixed Feelings About Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 2nd Cactus League Start

Dodgers Nation tweeted the details. “What are your thoughts on Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 2nd Cactus League start for the Dodgers?
6 hits
5 runs
4 strikeouts
58 pitches
3 innings pitched”

These numbers indicated that it’s a far cry from the stellar performance fans witnessed last week in his first Cactus League appearance. After all, once the fans tasted success, it only made them want more, thanks to Yoshi’s electric fastball and pinpoint control that he showcased against the Texas Rangers.

Speaking of his previous Cactus League debut on 28th February, the Japanese sensation won hearts at Surprise Stadium. The “highest-paid pitcher in MLB history” pitched two scoreless innings, striking out three and giving up just one hit in the Dodgers’ 6-4 loss that ultimately proved to be their first springtime loss.

Yamamoto showed off his extensive pitching repertoire by tossing 19 pitches, 16 of which were strikes. Little did fans expect these numbers to sink the following week.

Read More: Shohei Ohtani Goes Yard in Debut Under Mega Deal – Analyzing His 2024 Projections

The Dodgers Fans Were Not Kind When Yamamoto Faltered

While it’s important not to overreact to a single Spring Training performance, Yamamoto’s struggles cannot be entirely ignored. And the fans made it a point to share their candid thoughts. Ranging from commenting on his form, “He wasn’t sharp” to calling him “highly overpaid”, the fans said it all.

“Bust”, fans shared their frustration as the stats appeared disappointing.

Some fans tried to mellow down the criticism as they hoped, “He will figure it out!”

One among many questioned why Yamamoto was overpaid.

Disappointed folks pointed out that they were “Gonna see alot of this”

Despite all criticism, some fans spoke of the entire picture.

Ultimately, Yamamoto’s performance is a reminder that even the top performers can sometimes experience hiccups. But whether Yamamoto’s setback here was just a hiccup or indicative of a bigger underlying problem is yet to be known. One must be patient entering into the regular season.

Read More: Dodgers Already Striking Gold in Japan After $1 Billion Splash on Shohei Ohtani & Yoshinobu Yamamoto