With the season abandoned, the New York Mets are in the process of rebuilding. In addition to releasing Max Scherzer (39), they also released Justin Verlander (40). Scherzer left for the Texas Rangers, while Verlander was traded to the Houston Astros.

The New York Mets spent an astronomical amount of money on the mound last winter. They started the season with the goal of winning, and it’s been a disastrous failure. As of Day 1, they are in fourth place out of five teams in the National League East. Fall baseball has become difficult.

There’s a Japanese pitcher the New York Mets are eyeing for next season. It’s Orix Buffaloes ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 25. The top pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball is planning to enter the major leagues through the posting system after this season.안전놀이터

Every time he takes the mound, Major League Baseball officials are in attendance. New York Mets general manager Billy Eppler flew to Japan earlier this year to watch Yamamoto pitch.

Eppler is no stranger to Japanese players. He acquired Shohei Ohtani, 29, through the posting system when he was with the Los Angeles Angels. Last winter, he brought in SoftBank Hawks ace Senga Godai, 30. He signed for five years and $75 million.

Senga has quieted the injury risk and “overpayment” controversy and has been a mainstay. In his first year in the majors, he started 19 games and went 7-5 with a 3.17 ERA. He was second on the team in wins behind Scherzer. Senga’s success has made Yamamoto even more valuable.

Yamamoto is five years younger than Senga and is in his prime. In Nippon Professional Baseball, Yamamoto has been more dominant than Senga. In 2021 and 2022, he led the Pacific League in wins, ERA, strikeouts, and winning percentage for the second straight year.

Yamamoto leads the Pacific League in wins, ERA, strikeouts, and winning percentage. Photo Credit: Oryx Buffaloes Social Media

Orix ace Yamamoto pitched seven shutout innings against Rakuten on Jan. 1 to earn his 10th win of the season. It is the most in both leagues. Photo credit: Orix Buffaloes SNS
This year, he led the league in strikeouts, ERA, and walks.

Yamamoto started a home game against the Rakuten Eagles on April 1 and threw seven scoreless innings. He won his first 10 games in both the Central and Pacific Leagues. He threw 106 pitches, facing 27 batters through seven innings, walking four and striking out seven. Worked out of two jams in the first inning – runners on second and third and first and third – with an ace-like strikeout and a double play.

After one day, he is 10-4 with a 1.67 ERA, 114 strikeouts and a .714 winning percentage. He has finished 14 of his 15 starts with a quality start (6+ innings pitched, 3 earned runs or less).

Yamamoto went 18-5 with a 1.39 ERA, 206 strikeouts and a 0.783 winning percentage in 2021 and 15-5 with a 1.68 ERA, 205 strikeouts and a 0.750 winning percentage in 2022.

The Athletic reported last winter that Yamamoto could have gotten as much as six years and $180 million had he been on the major league market.

Orix ace Yamamoto. Photo credit: Oryx Buffaloes Social Media
Yamamoto’s international competitiveness was also recognized when he represented Japan at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March.