Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Rehab Assignment Date Revealed

The Los Angeles Dodgers are arguably the best team this season as we approach September. Although that doesn’t come as much of a surprise, it’s even more shocking when you see the list of players who have missed extensive time due to injury.

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Many of the Dodgers’ top players have missed significant time, including right-handed ace pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yamamoto’s presence has been missed; however, his return could be on the horizon.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed Yamamoto’s rehab assignment date on Sunday. He is set to begin it in Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic shared the news via Twitter/X.

On Friday, Roberts told reporters that Yamamoto is on track for a mid-September return.

“I think so,” Roberts said when asked if that expectation was fair. “Yeah, if it’s the three innings, and then he goes out and does three or four innings on rehab, and then we’ll be able to make a decision.

“So I think that’s kind of fair, which I feel given what’s happened, is a good amount of time.”

Yamamoto, who has been dealing with a rotator cuff injury, has been eyeing a mid-September return, and the journey will start this upcoming Wednesday. The Japanese sensation has been sidelined since June 15 and is expected to throw three simulated innings in the bullpen session on Monday before joining the team on the road.

Yamamoto will likely require multiple rehab starts before he is officially activated from the 60-day injured list. The 26-year-old has thrown a handful of bullpen sessions and looked quite good in them.

Just before Yamamoto landed on the IL, he was on a tear and on pace to win National League Rookie of the Year. Through 14 starts, he has recorded a 2.92 ERA, 6-2 win-loss record, 84 strikeouts, and a 1.06 WHIP in 74.0 innings.

Yamamoto entered the major leagues as one of the most decorated Japanese pitchers. In his time in Nippon Professional Baseball, he was named a five-time All-Star, three-time Japanse Triple Crown winner, three-time Pacific League MVP, and a Japan Series champion in 2022.

The Dodgers signed Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million contract. In order to acquire Yamamoto, the Dodgers also had to pay a $50,6 million posting fee to his previous team, the Buffaloes.

Yamamoto’s MLB debut was not pretty, but since then, he has been the Dodgers’ ace, and that is expected to be the case when he returns and well into October.

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