Yamamoto impresses in debut
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Even Shohei Ohtani was intrigued by Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s exhibition debut Wednesday, making the 30-minute drive through Phoenix suburbs in a white convertible to show his support for a fellow Japanese star, even though he wasn’t playing in the game.
Yamamoto put on quite a show.
The 25-year-old struck out three batters over two scoreless innings against the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers, giving a glimpse into why the Los Angeles Dodgers believe the right-hander can become a big league ace.
“I was just trying to do my job, trying to stay calm and focus on what I have to do,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter.
Yamamoto opened by striking out All-star Marcus Semien on six pitches, then gave up Evan Carter’s single before Wyatt Langford grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Yamamoto started the second by striking out Nathaniel Lowe on three pitches and retiring Jonah Heim on a flyout to left. Working with a long, deliberate windup and a fastball that hovered in the mid-90s, Yamamoto ended his outing by striking out Leody Taveras on four pitches.
“I don’t think it could have gone any better,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He got to use his entire pitch mix. He was pounding the strike zone. He got a lot of swing and miss and he was efficient.”
He threw 16 of 19 pitches for strikes, showing the impeccable command he became known for in Japan. Lowe and Taveras took particularly weak swings on strike three.
Cubs: Cody Bellinger’s free agency dragged into spring training, and it ended without the long-term deal he sought.
The process led him back to the Chicago Cubs, though, and that was enough to leave the 2019 NL MVP smiling.
“I’m super happy that it worked out the way it did,” Bellinger said Wednesday at a news conference after signing an $80 million, three-year deal this week.
Projected by some when the offseason began to command a deal well over $100 million , the 28-year-old Bellinger and agent Scott Boras settled for a shorter contract that includes opt outs after the first two seasons.
Orioles: Baltimore agreed to minor league contracts with right-hander Julio Teheran and infielder Kolten Wong, with invites to major league spring training.
The Orioles said Wednesday the pair will report to major league spring training.
Wakefield’s wife dies: Stacy Wakefield, the widow of former Boston Red Sox pitcher and two-time World Series champion Tim Wakefield, has died.
Her family said in a statement released through the Red Sox that she died Wednesday at her Massachusetts home, less than five months after her husband died at the age of 57. Stacy was 53, according to online records.
The family mentioned a diagnosis but did not provide a cause of death. In September, Tim’s former Red Sox teammate Curt Schilling said on a podcast both of the Wakefields had been diagnosed with cancer. Schilling said Tim had brain cancer and Stacy had pancreatic cancer. The news came with an outpouring of support for the Wakefields and criticism for Schilling disclosing the matter without their permission.
Rangers coach dies: Hector Ortiz, who spent the past 18 years as a manager and coach in the Texas Rangers organization, died Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. He was 54.
The Rangers said Ortiz died at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, not far from the club’s spring training home in the suburb of Surprise.