“He’s one of the best arms in the game….He did a great job.” That’s what Addison Barger said for the Dodgers ace who locked up Game 7 against the Blue Jays. His fan following isn’t just restricted to Japan or Los Angeles. It has now reached the Pinstripes and even in the rival dugout of the Padres.

The ace in question is Yoshinobu Yamamoto. After throwing 96 pitches in a Game 6 start, he came out of the bullpen on zero days’ rest to pitch 2 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 7, finishing off the Toronto Blue Jays and delivering the Dodgers their second straight championship. A “GOAT”, that’s what the manager called him after his heroics.

The performance earned him the World Series MVP award; his arms were so tired that he needed help lifting the trophy. Along with that, it also earned him something else—instant respect across baseball. Dodgers Nation shared an update on X. The caption wrote, “After winning his second straight World Series in his second year, Yamamoto has caught Judge and Tatis in Instagram follows🔥.”

Both Judge, the Yankees Captain, and Tatis, the Padres outfielder, followed him on Instagram after his World Series performance, showing how his star power has exploded beyond the West Coast. His follower count now sits at 2 million—the same number as Aaron Judge and Fernando Tatis Jr.

In the Fall Classic, Yamamoto went 3-0 with a 1.02 ERA. He was only the 14th pitcher to win three games in a single World Series and the first since Hall of Famer Randy Johnson did it for the Diamondbacks in 2001. He’s also the first pitcher to win three games on the road in a single World Series and the fourth pitcher to win both Game 6 and Game 7. The others are Johnson (2001), Harry Brecheen (1946), and Ray Kremer (1925).

A couple of days later, when the Dodgers returned home to Los Angeles for the championship parade, he addressed the packed Dodger Stadium crowd in English—without an interpreter for the first time. “We did it together. I love the Dodgers, I love Los Angeles,” he told the near sold-out crowd, cementing his place not just as a pitcher, but as a true LA icon.

At 27 years old, with a $325 million contract and now two World Series rings in two seasons, Yamamoto has proven he’s worth every penny.

Yamamoto earns Cy Young finalist nod after dominant season

The recognition continued to build beyond October. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is now officially a finalist for the 2025 NL Cy Young Award. He joins Pittsburgh Pirates youngster Paul Skenes and Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez. Yamamoto was the Dodgers’ main pitcher from Opening Day to September, finishing the regular season with a 12–8 record and a 2.49 ERA across 30 starts.

His nomination is the first time a Dodgers pitcher has made it to the finals since Julio Urias in 2022, which shows how important he has become to the team’s identity.

Dave Roberts didn’t hold back when drawing comparisons to Dodgers postseason legends. The manager referenced Walker Buehler’s pivotal performance against the Yankees in the 2024 World Series, where he led the team to victory in two key games. “Yeah, similarities. Walker is obviously in Dodger lore, and Yoshi put himself right there with him… throwing 100 pitches and coming back without a day off and going three innings. It’s pretty crazy,” Roberts said.

Roberts knew it was risky to put Yamamoto back out there, but he stressed trust. “You got to trust players, and I believed in him; we all believed in him.” Yamamoto became the go-to pitcher for his teammates under pressure, similar to Buehler in 2024. Their postseason performances are now comparable, defined by their resilience and ability to deliver in crucial moments.