- Ichiro Suzuki and Hisashi Yamada are the other two players with the honor
- Yamamoto also received the Sawamura Award for the third time in a row
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Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been named MVP of the Pacific League for the third year in a row in his home country.
Yamamoto, who is wanted by a host of MLB clubs this season after entering free agency, joins an exclusive group that includes Ichiro Suzuki and Hisashi Yamada as the only players to win three MVP awards in the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization.
“He’s a legend of the franchise,” the 25-year-old said of Ichiro, who also once played for the Orix when the club was known as the Blue Wave.
‘I’m glad I did the same as him. Everyone looks up to him, and I’m one of them.”
Yamamoto also won his third straight Sawamura Award 0, the NPB equivalent of the CY Yong Prize.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been named MVP of Japan’s NPB Pacific League for the third year
Ichiro Suzuki and Hisashi Yamada are the only other players with three consecutive MVP awards
Yamamoto is wanted by a number of MLB clubs this offseason after joining free agency
He went 16-6 with a 1.21 ERA and a 0.884 WHIP in 23 appearances this season, while also striking out 169 batters and walking 28 in 164 innings.
Despite this, Yamamoto still felt like he had more room to grow as a pitcher.
“I can’t quite say I left it all on the field, but I’ve had a great journey in professional baseball,” he said. ‘I am very happy, because I think it is important to continue to contribute.’
Yamamoto is expected to be one of the most sought-after free agents in the MLB this season and has been linked to multiple teams, including the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan previously mentioned that Yamamoto will likely begin negotiations with teams for $200 million and work from there.
While describing his game Buster Olney of ESPN said: ‘His trademark is his wide range of breaking pitches, excellent control and a fastball in the mid-nineties.’
Paul Heyman of the NY Post also noted that there are rumors circulating in MLB circles that Yamamoto might prefer to play for a team on the West Coast, potentially making things difficult for teams like the Mets and Yankees.