Yamamoto had a banner year in 2025, posting career highs across the board and capturing a second World Series championship. Shohei Ohtani also won this award twice, in 2016 and 2018.
“I hope to surpass my best season every year, and this year I was able to experience a lot of different things and felt a lot of personal growth,” said Yamamoto. “I want to do my best to show the fans an even better version of myself.”
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Yamamoto took a huge step forward from his rookie year in 2024, playing the full season and improving his ERA from 3.00 to 2.49. Last season, he also surpassed the 200 strikeout mark for the first time in his career. In addition, Yamamoto received his first All-Star selection and earned the World Series MVP for his electric performance during the Dodgers’ historic victory in the World Series.
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It will be difficult to improve on his fantastic season, but not impossible. After just two years, Yamamoto has won just about everything there is to win in the MLB, but has yet to add an NL Cy Young Award to his trophy case.
Beating Pittsburgh Pirates ace and current award winner Paul Skenes is no easy task, but Yamamoto led the pack as the favorite for the award early in the season and could very well make an attempt to take out Skenes if he can maintain that form throughout the season.
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The Dodgers hope Yamamoto can have a similarly healthy and successful season in 2026 as they pursue their third straight World Series championship.
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
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