Every season, there’s that one pitcher—the one who owns the mound, silences hitters, and carves a path toward Cy Young glory. It’s the ultimate badge of dominance, built on resilience, consistency, and clutch performances. But guess what? This year, one Dodgers pitcher has already made his pick for the 2025 Cy Young contender. So, who’s set to rule the mound this season?

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes one of his pitchers has the potential to run for the award in 2025. That pitcher? Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Although his transition to the major leagues wasn’t flawless. Let’s rewind to his debut in Seoul. In 2024, he made his debut and struggled, allowing 5 earned runs in just 1 inning. Fast forward to 2025; he’s an absolute game-changer.

During the Dodgers’ Tokyo series opener against the Chicago Cubs, he threw five innings and gave up only 1 run on 3 hits while striking out 4. More notably, he was confident and composed throughout the game.

The confidence Roberts has in Yamamoto isn’t just based on his game; it’s his refined fastball command. Last season, hesitation cost him, but now he’s attacking the strike zone with conviction, making him far more dangerous.

Of course, contending for the Cy Young Award isn’t a cakewalk. The National League is full of elite pitchers, even within the Dodgers’ very own rotation. After all, he will be competing with two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell and emerging talent like Roki Sasaki.

Now, Yamamoto’s durability and consistency will determine whether Roberts’ prediction holds up or not. If his Tokyo performance is any indication, he’s already on the right path.

Dodgers’ Japanese aces: Breaking down the styles of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki

Not all teams can boast a pitching duo as dynamic as the Dodgers’ Yamamoto and Sasaki. What makes it even more interesting is that these two couldn’t be any more different in how they dominate the mound. For Yamamoto, it’s all about finesse. At 5’10, he isn’t the tallest pitcher, but his success lies in precision and technique. On the other hand, Sasaki, at 6’2, has a fastball that has touched 102.5 mph—flat-out electric.

Upon reviewing their mechanics side by side, we can see that Yamamoto’s delivery is polished, compact, and controlled. And Sasaki? His high leg kick generates explosive power. Turns out, it’s a big reason why he generates so much velocity.

Their pitch arsenals couldn’t be more different, yet both are lethal. Yamamoto’s fastball averages around 95 mph, but the real magic lies in his splitter, curveball, and slider—he keeps hitters guessing. Sasaki, on the other hand, overpowers batters with sheer velocity, though he’s still refining his secondary pitches.

It looks like Yamamoto will be that steady and top-of-the-rotation player who offers consistency to the Dodgers. Sasaki, who is still settling in, has a high potential. If both meet expectations, the Dodgers’ rotation will be a nightmare for opposing teams.