Yoshinobu Yamamoto's smooth golf swing before spring training draws praise for resembling his pitching mechanics.

Los Angeles Dodgers' ace Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto unexpectedly became the center of attention just before spring training—not for bullpen sessions, but for a video of him swinging a golf club at an Arizona golf course. The clip quickly went viral online, with fans exclaiming, "Our MVP is so skilled even at golf!"

In the video, the Japanese ace’s golf swing is fluid and highly controlled, compact and explosive, with weight transfer and core rotation power closely mirroring his pitching mechanics. His follow-through also reveals a distinct personal style. A Dodgers fan on Reddit commented, "Even his swing looks cool—truly MVP material." Some joked that this clip makes former NBA star Charles Barkley’s famously stiff swing look inferior.

Yamamoto isn’t the only golf enthusiast on the Dodgers. Manager Dave Roberts is well-known as a passionate golfer, while catcher Will Smith and shortstop Mookie Betts often hit the course when their schedules allow. Fans have even started imagining a “championship-caliber foursome” featuring Yamamoto, Roberts, Smith, and Betts competing together.

Looking back to last October, Yamamoto delivered a dominant performance on baseball’s biggest stage. He went 3-0 with a 2-run allowance over 17.2 innings in the 2025 World Series. He pitched a complete game victory in Game 2, won again in Game 6 to force a Game 7, then came out of the bullpen for 2.2 scoreless innings in the final game to secure the championship and earn World Series MVP honors. He will next represent Japan in the World Baseball Classic, aiming to defend the title.