The Dodgers activated Yoshinobu Yamamoto from the 60-day injured list Tuesday and designated Nick Ramirez for assignment.
Yamamoto is scheduled to start Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers acquired Ramirez from the New York Yankees for cash on April 2. His myriad of back-and-forth trips to Triple-A Oklahoma City have yielded just eight appearances this season. It’s the second time Ramirez has been designated for assignment by the Dodgers.
Yamamoto hasn’t pitched since straining his rotator cuff in June. The highest-paid pitcher in baseball history, he will start against the Chicago Cubs and countryman Shota Imanaga in his first major league game since a June 15 start against the Kansas City Royals.
Yamamoto made two minor league rehab starts with the Dodgers’ top farm team prior to being activated.
On Aug. 28 he allowed one run (on a solo home run) in two innings against the Round Rock Express. On Sept. 3, he allowed two runs in two innings against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, allowing two hits and walking two batters in the process.
Yamamoto also faced teammates in simulated-game settings while recovering from the injury he sustained in a game against the Kansas City Royals.
The Dodgers signed Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million contract in Dec. 2023, making him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history despite having never thrown a pitch in North America. Early on, he appeared to be well on the way to justifying the Dodgers’ record investment.
In 14 starts, Yamamoto went 6-2 with a 2.92 earned-run average. His ability to pitch deep into games while adapting to a new league in a new country was exactly what the team needed. After shaking off a poor (1 inning, 5 runs allowed) performance in the Seoul Series against the San Diego Padres on March 21, Yamamoto went 6-1 with a 2.41 ERA over his next 12 starts, never missing a turn in the rotation.
But the Dodgers delayed his most recent start by two days amid concerns about Yamamoto’s health. Initially diagnosed as a triceps injury, the Dodgers announced Yamamoto had strained his rotator cuff after removing him two innings into their June 15 game against the Kansas City Royals.
The Dodgers are now counting on Yamamoto to be an integral part of their October rotation. Beyond trade deadline acquisition Jack Flaherty, the Dodgers’ rotation is full of question marks.
Tyler Glasnow (elbow), Clayton Kershaw (bone spur in toe) and Gavin Stone (shoulder) are all recovering from injuries.
Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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