Yoshinobu Yamamoto delays Los Angeles Dodgers return as Team Japan ace stays for World Baseball Classic title chase

Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto will stay with Team Japan for the rest of the World Baseball Classic 2026 instead of returning early to the Dodgers’ camp in Arizona.

The update came from MLB insider Fabian Ardaya, who shared that the Japanese ace will continue his duties with Samurai Japan during the tournament.Ardaya posted the update on X, explaining that the earlier report about Yamamoto returning sooner had changed. He wrote, “Update from the Dodgers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto will actually be staying with Samurai Japan for the remainder of the tournament.” This means the Dodgers will have to wait a little longer while Yamamoto focuses on helping Japan defend its World Baseball Classic title.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto prepares for crucial World Baseball Classic quarterfinal start against Venezuela

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has already appeared once during the World Baseball Classic 2026. In his first outing against Chinese Taipei, the Japanese right-hander pitched 2.2 innings and recorded two strikeouts.His next appearance will come in the quarterfinal against Team Venezuela, a lineup filled with dangerous hitters. Venezuela’s roster includes stars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Luis Arraez, William Contreras, Willson Contreras, Eugenio Suárez, and Gleyber Torres, making it one of the toughest offenses in the tournament.

Even though Yamamoto will remain with Japan throughout the event, there is a clear agreement between Team Japan and the Los Angeles Dodgers about how much he will pitch. Reports say he will not pitch after the quarterfinal round as part of workload management.Before the tournament started, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke about Yamamoto’s schedule and confirmed the organization was comfortable with the plan.Roberts said, “For me, it’s just more of the well wishing, good luck. Yoshinobu knows when he’s going to pitch for Team Japan. We’re aligned, as far as our organization, our pitching guys. He’s comfortable with it.”Yamamoto is also expected to throw around 80 pitches during the quarterfinal game to avoid overworking his arm before the MLB season begins.The Dodgers clearly value Yamamoto’s health because he played a huge role in their success last season.

During the 2025 MLB season, he posted a 2.49 ERA across 30 starts and reached the 200 strikeout mark.He was even more dominant in the postseason. In the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Yamamoto allowed only six earned runs across 37.1 innings. His outstanding performances earned him the World Series MVP award and helped the Dodgers capture another championship.For now, Yamamoto’s full attention is on Team Japan’s World Baseball Classic run. The Dodgers will welcome him back after the tournament as they prepare for the upcoming MLB season.