Yoshinobu Yamamoto's final spring training warm-up game was against the San Francisco Giants, and he is about to depart for Japan.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Japanese ace right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is expected to start for Team Japan in their opening World Baseball Classic game against Chinese Taipei, made his last adjustment appearance in a spring training warm-up today. Facing the San Francisco Giants, he started for 3 innings, struck out 4 batters, allowed 5 hits and 2 runs, with his fastest pitch reaching 96.9 mph.

Previous reports suggested Yamamoto might only throw 45 to 50 pitches in the Classic opener against Chinese Taipei. However, after throwing 30 pitches in his first spring training start, his total pitch count today reached 52, an increase of 22 pitches from that outing. Following the normal spring training adjustment progression, his next appearance—the game against Chinese Taipei—is expected to increase to the Classic's single-game limit of 65 pitches.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto did not have a smooth start today. In the bottom of the first inning, facing the Giants' leadoff hitter Willy Adames, he threw a curveball below the strike zone on a full count, which Adames hit for a leadoff home run to left-center field. In the bottom of the second, he allowed consecutive hits to start the inning, including a hard line-drive double by Heliot Ramos with an exit velocity of 107.2 mph, surrendering another run. Against the first seven batters, he recorded only one strikeout while giving up four hits, including two for extra bases.

However, Yamamoto quickly regained his composure thereafter. After allowing the runs, he struck out two consecutive batters to end the Giants' threat in the bottom of the second. In the bottom of the third, although he allowed another infield hit, he retired the other three batters smoothly, including one strikeout. Against the final seven batters, he recorded three strikeouts and allowed only one hit.

Overall, Yamamoto pitched 3 innings, struck out 4, walked none, allowed 5 hits and 2 runs. Not only did his performance stabilize later in the outing, but the velocity of his various pitches also nearly returned to his regular-season levels from last year. His four-seam fastball averaged 95.7 mph, and his sinker averaged 95.3 mph, both slightly faster than last year's averages, clearly indicating he is ready for the Classic.

Discussing his performance today, Yamamoto said after the game: "I couldn't command my pitches precisely in the first inning, but from the middle of the second inning onward, I found my rhythm during the game and was able to locate the ball well. This outing helped me feel better with my pitches; it was a good appearance."