Who is Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Japanese pitching ace bound for MLB next season?

He's the most coveted free-agent pitcher of the offseason. Yet many baseball fans have never heard of him, let alone seen him pitch.

He's Yoshinobu Yamamoto. And he's coming to the major leagues next season. We just don't know where yet.

The 25-year-old right-hander has dominated the Japan Pacific League, especially the past three seasons − racking up 18, 15 and 16 wins and posting ERAs of 1.39, 1.68 and 1.16. That dominance has resulted in him being named Pacific League MVP twice and winning three consecutive awards as the league's top pitcher.

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Who is Yoshinobu Yamamoto?

Yamamoto was born Aug. 17, 1998 in Bizen, Okayama in Japan.

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The right-hander signed with the Orix Buffaloes of the Japanese Pacific League at the age of 18, and made his NPB debut in 2017, three days after his 19th birthday.

Yamamoto has drawn comparisons to peak Pedro Martinez because of his smallish stature (5-10, 176 pounds) and his amazing dominance.

What are Yoshinobu Yamamoto's stats in Japan?

Yamamoto has spent seven seasons with the Orix Buffaloes, posting a record of 70-29 (.707) with a sparkling 1.82 ERA.

He's averaged 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings, while allowing 6.4 hits and 2.1 walks per nine for a career WHIP of 0.935.

Yamamoto has thrown two career no-hitters for the Buffaloes, one on June 18, 2022 and another on Sept. 9, 2023.

His fastball averages 95 mph, topping out around 99. He also throws a splitter, slider, cutter and curveball.

After pitching in his final game in the 2023 Japan Series, the Buffaloes announced Yamamoto would enter the international posting system and be eligible to be signed by MLB teams as a free agent.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto's international experience

Yamamoto was selected to represent Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He pitched his team to a win over Korea in the tournament semifinals as Japan went on to defeat the United States for the gold medal.

Yamamoto also pitched for Team Japan at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He made one start and one relief appearance in the WBC, earning a win and posting a 2.45 ERA in 7 ⅓ innings as Japan won gold in dramatic fashion, again beating Team USA in the final in Miami.

What MLB teams are looking to sign Yamamoto?

Every single major league club could use a pitcher of Yamamoto's skill level and age. However, only ones with fairly deep pockets figure to be able to afford the salary he'll command on the open market.

Of course, that list has to begin with the New York Yankees, who had GM Brian Cashman there in person to witness Yamamoto's second career no-hitter. The Yankees have presumptive 2023 AL Cy Young award winner Gerrit Cole as their ace, but a host of questions behind him after last winter's big free-agent aquisition, Carlos Rodon, was an injury-plagued washout.

Other big-market teams likely to express interest include the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi reports the San Francisco Giants and pitching-needy St. Louis Cardinals could also enter the Yamamoto sweepstakes.

Once Yamamoto is officially posted, any MLB team looking to sign him has a 45-day window to agree to terms of a contract. Otherwise, he would go back to his NPB team.