To be fair Ive watched a fair amount.
A couple innings this past season to get a feel for the league.
Obviously a handful of World Baseball Classic starts.
And even so, I dont really care at this point in the talent evaluation cycle.
I know it when I see it.
We should address some bad stuff.
There isnt a lot, but it exists and mostly revolves around size.
Hes listed at 510 and 176 pounds, which is probably accurate.
I dont think Yamamoto is the kinda guy to overstate 59 or like about 165.
At that point, were really splitting hairs.
Point is hes undersized and that carries water for a reason.
There were 608 pitchers in the 2023 season.
Exactly 8 were listed at 510 and nobody shorter.
So instantly Yamamoto is in the bottom 1.4% of the league in height.
On the scale, theres 546 thiccer guys putting him in the bottom 10%.
The combination together is arguably the smallest pitcher in the entire league.
Injury concerns follow, naturally.
But so does performance risk that the pitches flatten out.
Theres a whole list of related issues that could follow, and thats easily the biggest question to me.
But then you look at the mechanics.
A quick glance and you should immediately disarm injury concerns.
His arm action is so quick and short and tight.
His lower half is so perfectly aligned with his release.
The repeatability and consistency is off the charts.
If we were talking golf swings, then were talking about Rory McIlroy levels of torque and power.
An objectively small athlete using every ounce of his athleticism to create repeatable power.
Thats what I think of with Rory and its similar to Yamamoto.
Another undersized pitcher that always jumps out is Tim Lincecum.
He had a crazy lever-style delivery that was alarmingly max effort at all times.
It helped throw a plus plus changeup along with other devastating pitches.
But it also tore his rotator cuff in half, tragically.
In comparison, Yamamoto has a much cleaner delivery.
A more apt comparison could be Pedro Martinez, which is a sacrilegious statement at best.
At worst, Im a complete fucking moron for even considering these guys in the same sentence.
But Im being honest.
Im speaking from the heart here.
Youve got elite control of multiple pitches.
you might throw multiple pitches for quality strikes even and behind the count.
Youve got an elite swing-and-miss pitch that can be used to get out of the worst jams.
The absurd ability to throw 1st pitch strikes without getting hit early in the count.
A seemingly rubber arm that works off a powerful set of butt cheeks.
Pedros a top 10 pitcher all time.
Yamamoto hasnt thrown a pitch in MLB yet.
I understand the absurdity of this comparison, but like I said.
I honestly feel its appropriate to consider the furthest end of the spectrum with Yamamoto.
Theres a solid chance he quickly proves to be worth the hype.
The other end of the spectrum is far less likely.
He could have issues adjusting to the balls.
Or the environments and travel schedule and some other soft stuff.
Maybe it takes him off the rails or maybe he never gets settled.
Maybe things just dont work out.
The reality is probably closer to All Star production and a lot of 7 inning starts.
Think of Senga at his best but with less control/command issues that render him so inefficient.
A lot of the good with so little of the bad.
Thats my read on Yamamoto.
The fastball has life.
The breaking balls are different but similar.
He pitches to all parts of the zone.
He can work soft contact early.
He can get back-to-back strikeouts in a jam.
Hes got the mix and command to dominate the same lineup multiple times in a season.
Hes polished, proven and rarely surrenders extra base hits.
Everything youd want in a pitcher, this guy has it and theres the softest learning curve.
Thats an insane amount of money for a guy that hasnt done shit in the big leagues.
But using my brain.
Considering the market and overwhelming downward trend away from quality, healthy starting pitchers.
And come October, the last thing youll be worried about is the price tag.
Im convinced hes that special.
And personal bias aside, I sincerely hope he ends up in New York.
Either on the games biggest stage or in front of the league’s most tortured fans.
