why yoshinobu Yamamoto will succeed in MLB how his pitching style and connection with shoh Otani will help him shine with the Dodgers yoshinobu Yamamoto made important changes to his pitching style before joining MLB despite opposition from some people these changes along with his strong bond with shoh Otani will help him succeed with the Dodgers why did Yamamoto change his pitching style Yamamoto knew he needed to adapt to MLB's powerful hitters so he made the old choice to lower his leg lift in his pitching motion some people around him thought this was unnecessary but Yamamoto stuck to his plan adapting to MLB's power hitters MLB hitters are generally stronger and aim for big hits to counter this Yamamoto lowered his leg lift which made his fast ball more powerful and harder for hitters to connect with ignoring critics many coaches and fans were concerned about this change saying things like why change a style that already works works and it's too risky but Yamamoto believed this adjustment was needed to compete in MLB so he stayed focused on his goal lowering his release point in addition to lowering his leg lift Yamamoto also lowered his release Point making it harder for batters to see the ball since MLB players are used to fast balls this extra movement made his pitches more unpredictable reducing physical strain by lowering his leg lift Yamamoto improved his balance and reduced unne necessary motion this will help him maintain his performance throughout the long MLB season why will Yamamoto succeed with the Dodgers Yamamoto has a great track record from Japan and his style changes are perfect for MLB his relationship with SH Otani will also play a big role in his success variety of pitches Yamamoto throws a fast ball in the mid90s along with a sharp splitter and a tricky curveball this variety will help him keep MLB hitters off balance mental strength Yamamoto has shown strong mental toughness in high- pressure games both in Japan and on the international stage this will help him Thrive under the spotlight in MLB especially with a famous team like the Dodgers success in Japan Yamamoto won multiple pitching Awards in Japan proving he can perform at a high level this confidence will help him handle the challenges of MLB Big expectations the Dodgers gave Yamamoto a record- setting contract making him lb's highest paid pitcher the team sees him as a future star and Yamamoto feels a responsibility to prove himself as an ace his relationship with shoh Otani Yamamoto and Shi Otani have played together in international tournaments like the World Baseball Classic Yamamoto looks up to Otani as a mentor and role model now that they are teammates on the Dodgers this relationship is even more important otani's success in MLB inspired Yamamoto shown showing him that Japan's best players can thrive on the world stage by learning from otani's training habits and mental approach Yamamoto has grown as a player their relationship will push them both to get better and fans can expect great moments as they work together to lead the Dodgers to success what will be different for Yamamoto and MLB longer season and More Travel the MLB season is longer 162 games versus 143 in Japan and the travel distance are greater yamamoto's knowledge of recovery and stamina from pan will help him adjust pitching strategy differences in Japan pitchers face the same batters more often and there are fewer power hitters in MLB there are more powerful hitters so Yamamoto will need to change how he uses his pitches to keep hitters guessing adapting to new environments MLB stadiums have a different atmosphere with louder and more unpredictable fans with a high-profile team like the Dodgers media attention and fan expectations will be high but yamamoto's mental strength and experience from Japan will help him handle it conclusion yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to succeed as the highest paid pitcher in MLB with the Dodgers his strong bond with SH Otani will continue to motivate him as they work together to lead the Dodgers to success