Dodgers Japanese Players

Dodger from 1995 - 1997
Hideo Nomo pioneered the path for Japanese stars to play in the Major Leagues. In 1995, he became the first Japanese player in 30 years to appear in the Majors.

He won National League Rookie of the Year, led the league in strikeouts and was the NL's starting pitcher at the All-Star Game in 1995. He became the fourth rookie to start an All-Star Game and the first Dodger rookie since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981. His 236 strikeouts are the most ever by a Dodger rookie pitcher. He struck out 16 batters in his June 14, 1995 start vs. Pittsburgh, the most by a Dodger rookie pitcher. He also pitched what remains the only no-hitter thrown at Colorado's Coors Field on Sept. 17, 1996. Nomo won 81 games over seven seasons with the Dodgers.

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Dodger starting in 2024
Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed with the Dodgers on December 27, 2023, after one of the most dominant runs in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) history with the Orix Buffaloes. Before arriving in Major League Baseball, the right-handed pitcher won three straight Eiji Sawamura Awards (NPB's equivalent to the Cy Young Award) and three straight Pacific League MVP awards from 2021-2023.

Yamamoto had a 7-2 record with a 3.00 ERA, and 105 strikeouts in 18 starts in 2024. He was vital for the Dodgers in their run to a 2024 World Series championship, including an outstanding start in Game 2. The Dodgers won all four of his postseason starts.

Dodger starting in 2025
Roki Sasaki, one of the most exciting prospects to ever come out of Japan, signed with the Dodgers on January 22, 2025, after four superb seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball league. Sasaki reached 100 mph with his fastball as a high school senior and from that point has continued his ascension. Sasaki owns one of the legendary single-game performances in NPB history. He threw the first perfect game in 28 years in the NPB on April 10, 2022, when he was 20 years old. His 19 strikeouts tied the league record. The phenom made his Major League debut, starting Game 2 of the Tokyo Series presented by Guggenheim.

Dodger starting in 2024
Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 11, 2023, marking a new chapter in the history of the franchise. Already considered one of the greatest talents in Major League history as a two-way superstar, Ohtani reached incredible heights in his first season as a Dodger in 2024. He achieved the first 50/50 season in Major League history. Ohtani reached 50 home runs and 50 steals for the season in the same game on September 19, 2024, in Miami. He went 6-for-6 with three home runs, two stolen bases, 10 RBI and 17 total bases that day. He set a new Dodger franchise record with 54 home runs and he finished with 59 stolen bases in 2024. Ohtani, the 2021 and 2023 AL MVP, was honored with the 2024 NL MVP, becoming the first player in MLB history to win MVPs in both leagues in consecutive seasons. He also won a World Series in his first year as a Dodger.

Dodger from 2008 to 2011
Hiroki Kuroda pitched for the Hiroshima Carp for 11 seasons in Japan before signing with the Dodgers prior to the 2008 season.

Kuroda was a steady presence in his four seasons in the Dodger starting rotation from 2008 to 2011. He became the first Dodger rookie pitcher to take a perfect game into the eighth inning since Orel Hershiser in 1984, eventually one-hitting the Braves in a shutout on July 7, 2008. He pitched 6 1/3 shutout innings in his MLB postseason debut in Game 3 of the 2008 Division Series. Kuroda was the Dodgers' Opening Day starter in 2009. He won 41 games over four seasons with the Dodgers.