Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on August 17, 1998, in Bizen, Okayama, Japan, he began his professional career with the Orix Buffaloes in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), where he established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in league history. From 2021 to 2023, Yamamoto won three consecutive Pacific League Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, three Eiji Sawamura Awards (given to the top starting pitcher in NPB), and achieved the pitching Triple Crown each year by leading the league in wins, earned run average (ERA), and strikeouts. He also threw two no-hitters and was instrumental in leading the Orix Buffaloes to their first Japan Series championship in 26 years in 2022. His signature pitch is a distinctive rainbow curveball, highly regarded for its effectiveness and aesthetic appeal. After the 2023 season, Yamamoto was posted to MLB and signed a historic 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers, marking the largest contract ever for a pitcher at that time. He made his MLB debut in March 2024 and quickly became a key part of the Dodgers’ pitching rotation. In his rookie MLB season, he helped the Dodgers win the 2024 World Series, becoming the first player in baseball history to win a World Series, an Olympic gold medal (2020 Tokyo Olympics), and a World Baseball Classic title (2023). In 2025, he was selected for his first MLB All-Star game, further cementing his status as a top pitcher internationally. Internationally, Yamamoto has been a crucial member of Japan's national team, earning gold medals at the 2019 WBSC Premier12, the 2020 Olympics, and the 2023 World Baseball Classic. His transition to MLB is closely watched, and he continues to be a significant figure in professional baseball worldwide.