Yoshinobu Yamamoto has already delivered the Los Angeles Dodgers back-to-back World Series titles, but he may be cooking up something even bigger this offseason — literally over sushi.
The 27-year-old ace, fresh off one of the most dominant postseason runs baseball has ever seen, was spotted having dinner with Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami — the most sought-after hitter to come out of Japan since Shohei Ohtani.
And Dodgers fans are buzzing.
Yamamoto’s Legendary Run
Since arriving from Japan two seasons ago, Yamamoto has turned into the heartbeat of the Dodgers dynasty. He won three World Series games against the Blue Jays — all on the road — and closed out Games 6 and 7 with performances that instantly became part of baseball folklore. The MVP was a no-brainer.
He’s joined by Shohei Ohtani, the reigning regular-season MVP, and rising star pitcher Roki Sasaki — forming a Japanese powerhouse trio in Los Angeles.
Enter Munetaka Murakami
Now the question: will Murakami, at just 25, be the next Japanese star to choose the Dodgers?
His résumé says it all:
56 home runs in 2022 — a single-season NPB record
Triple Crown winner
Central League MVP
33 home runs last year
And at only 25 years old, the ceiling is ridiculous
He’s the type of bat that changes a franchise.
And Yamamoto sharing a sushi dinner with him? Yeah… fans know exactly what that means.
Dodgers’ Big-Money Reality
The Dodgers already carried MLB’s highest payroll last season at $350 million. But if there’s any organization capable of adding another superstar, it’s them. The idea of Murakami hitting in a lineup with Ohtani should terrify pitchers everywhere.
For now, it’s just a dinner — but one that has Dodgers Nation dreaming.
Because with L.A.’s spending power and Yamamoto’s influence, nothing feels off the table. The dynasty doesn’t appear anywhere close to finished.
