Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s trainer was driving force for epic Dodgers World Series finish

No one would've blamed the Dodgers if they'd decided not to make Yoshinobu Yamamoto available out of the bullpen in Game 7 of the World Series. He was just a single day removed from pitching six innings in Game 6, which was in turn just six days removed from his second consecutive complete game in Game 2. He already proved that he had the grit and team-first mentality to volunteer himself to pitch in Game 3 on two days' rest.

As things turned out, it's hard to fathom how Game 7 would've gone without him. He pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings behind Blake Snell — and cleaned up Snell's mess in the ninth — and got out of deep trouble in the bottom of the 11th with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on third. Roki Sasaki and Clayton Kershaw were warming up in the bullpen, but leaving Yamamoto in turned him into a postseason legend in just his second year in MLB.

And he was pretty close to not pitching at all.

Dylan Hernández of the LA Times reported that Yamamoto went into Game 7 not planning on pitching at all and thanked his trainer, Osamu Yada, for his work this season after Game 6. Yada said, "Let's see if you can throw in the bullpen tomorrow."

"That's how I got tricked," Yamamoto said.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto almost didn't pitch at all in Game 7 of the World Series

Yamamoto being named the series MVP was the only correct answer. He basically had it in the bag after Game 2, but his volunteering to pitch in Game 3, his start in Game 6, and his relief appearance in Game 7 were just reminder after reminder that his critics, of which there were plenty, should be eating their words.

Andrew Friedman was asked if he thought any other pitcher could do what Yamamoto did during the World Series, and he said, "No, I don't. In fact, yesterday morning I didn't necessarily think Yama could either."

After spending so much time on the IL in 2024, Yamamoto was the only Dodgers starter to be healthy for the entire season. He pitched a team-leading 173 2/3 innings — 61 more innings than runner-up Clayton Kershaw — and then he tacked on 37 1/3 more to lead all postseason pitchers. After the game, he confirmed that his arm was feeling fine.

The Dodgers might've been okay if they'd put Sasaki in for the 11th, but the safest hands were by far Yamamoto's, and he pulled it off.